Talking About Automobiles

2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Features Revealed

2008-06-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

The Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company. This first generation debuted in 1992 remained in production until a complete redesign in 1998. It later on came out with a new front and rear fascia, grille, hood, bumpers, wheels, lights, and mirrors.

The 2008 Grand Marquis is a 4-door, 6-passenger family sedan, available in two trims, the GS and the LS. Both trims are equipped with a standard 4.6 liter, V8, 224 horsepower, flexible fuel engine that achieves 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. A 4 speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. Most reviewers find its performance generally smooth and strong around town.

Little has changed over the past decade with its exterior styling, but it gets a flashier grille and tail lamp treatment. Both trims come with 16-inch steel wheels with faux chrome wheel covers.

The Grand Marquis offers space to seat six and a spacious cabin. It comes standard with an AM/FM stereo with single CD player; cup holders; dual ashtrays, map pockets; day/night rearview mirror; sliding driver and passenger visors; premium cloth seats with eight-way power lumbar and recline control, and carpeted floor mats.

The Grand Marquis has scored well in tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Grand Marquis has an anti-lock braking system and auto on/off headlamps with delay. All-speed traction control is an additional option for the GS but comes standard on the LS.

Nissan's Smyrna Plant Achieves Major Milestone

2008-06-17T00:38:00.000-07:00

Nissan North America's (NNA) vehicle assembly plant situated in Smyrna, Tennessee rejoiced the 25 years of constructing first-class vehicles at the award-winning facility today. Over 8.2 million vehicles have been manufactured in Smyrna since the plant fashioned its very first compact pickup truck in June 1983.

"Over the past 25 years, Nissan's Smyrna plant has placed its mark on this community, the southern United States, and the automotive industry," said Greg Daniels, senior vice president, U.S. Manufacturing, Nissan North America. "We are extremely proud of what we've accomplished over the past quarter of a century and are looking forward to the next 25 years."

Nissan was the first foreign automaker to convey vehicle assembly business to the southern region of the United States.

"Nissan's decision to begin manufacturing in Tennessee 25 years ago was a watershed event for our state and our nation. With Nissan's continued success and the passage of time, it's easy to forget what a bold, innovative move that decision was and how it transformed our state's economy. The launch of the Smyrna facility was literally the first step in an explosion of automotive manufacturing in the southeast U.S. and the impact of the Nissan team is still being felt today,” says Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.

"After 25 years, Nissan's investment in Tennessee continues to reap benefits for our state each day. From the thousands of good paying jobs to the additional employment provided by Nissan suppliers to the quality of the vehicles rolling off the assembly line, all of us in Tennessee are proud of Nissan's contributions to our state's economy," says Matt Kisber, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

All-new 2009 Dodge Journey Crossover Bags Ward's 'Clever Utility' Achievement Award

2008-06-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

The all-new Dodge Journey stood-out from the pact and claimed one of the most prominent title this year; the “Clever Utility” award presented by the world-renowned Ward’s Auto Interior Show. Panelists from the awarding body presented the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey crossover an extraordinary achievement award, "Clever Utility," for its carefully planned and elegantly incorporated interior features at the 2008 Ward's Auto Interiors Show. The show is the annual auto interior event of the publication

"'Extreme functionality' sums up one Ward's judge of the Dodge's flexible interior. To start, the Journey has more hiding places than a Nancy Drew mansion. Flip forward the front passenger-seat cushion to reveal a nicely sized compartment for keeping valuables out of sight. There are also concealed compartments under the floor in the rear cargo bay and ahead of the second-row seats -- the latter specially lined for potential use as an ice chest," says David E. Zoia, Editorial Director - WardsAuto.com.

A significant goal for the 2009 Dodge Journey's design team was conveying a crossover with a convenient, flexible interior, with seating and inventive storage features usually instituted in the high-quality and best-selling Chrysler and Dodge minivans.

"The all-new Dodge Journey right-sized crossover is designed to satisfy buyers' rapidly changing demands by offering a unique combination of versatility and flexibility," said Joe Dehner, Vice President - Small, Family and Premium Vehicle Design, Chrysler LLC. "The 'Clever Utility' special achievement award validates what our designers and engineers sought to accomplish, and we are honored by Ward's judges for this recognition."

BMW Victorious

2008-05-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

BMW has successfully secured its spot as the world’s number one manufacturer of competent high-performance power units with six awards for five engines gained at this year’s “International Engine of the Year Awards”. The 3-liter inline six engine with Twin Turbo and High Precision Injection is behind the group’s successful campaign by notching the overall ranking in this most prominent international engine contest for the second straight time and counting.

History repeats itself! The 300 hp engine engaged in the BMW 3 Series and 5 Series, the BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible, as well as the latest BMW X6, repeated last year’s win in the 2.5 to 3-liter engine category.

If we will recall the history, only one engine had formerly ever succeeded in recurring overall victory at the “International Engine of the Year Awards”: the 5-litre V10 high-revving engine employed in the BMW M5 Sedan, M6 Coupe and M6 Convertible received top honors in 2005 and 2006.

In addition to this, according to the Auto Channel, this year, the 500 hp high-end power unit won the “Above 4-liter” category. BMW M GmbH was triumphant in posting another winner: the 414 hp V8 engine in the new BMW M3 won the category for engines in the 3 to 4 liter category. Furthermore, the 2-liter four-cylinder diesel with Variable Twin Turbo technology outfitted in the BMW 123d got the award for “Best New Engine” of the 2008. And the 1.6-liter four cylinder with Twin Scroll Turbocharger and direct gas injection employed in the MINI Cooper S took over to repeat last year’s victory in the 1.4 to 1.8 liter class.

Labor Leader Dies At 91

2008-02-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

Last year, the United Auto Workers union made the news when they assembled to strike against General Motors. It was during that time when the solidarity of the union was seen, although not for the first time. Today's UAW president Ron Gettelfinger has seen his share of bargaining with the Big Three and other automakers but even Gettelfinger looks up to someone.

That someone happens to be the former president of the United Auto Workers union, the late Douglas A. Fraser. Fraser passed away late Saturday at the Providence Hospital in Southfield. His wife, Winnie said that the former UAW president ad emphysema and was checked into the hospital after having problem breathing.

During his time as the president of the UAW, Douglas Fraser has been known to be popular with the rank and file workers. "Everybody thought he was wonderful," said Winnie Fraser. "He was a good guy, and he really was (wonderful)," she added according to The Auto Channel.

Gettelfinger said that Fraser was a "voice of reason". "He could interject humor in a very tense situation. He was realistic. He was abreast of what was going on. I was always relieved when on the other end of the line was Doug. He would always make you feel good before you hung up that phone," he added.

Sure, we are to talk about automobiles around here. But we have to talk about the guys who gave much to the industry. In fact, without Fraser, the Chrysler 300 would not have been possible. Why? It's because along with Lee Iacocca, Fraser had a major involvement in keeping Chrysler from bankruptcy.

So I honor this great man with this humble post.

VW Welcomes New Age Of Online Marketing

2008-02-15T00:49:00.000-08:00

After 18 months of pure work and ingenuity, Tribal launches one of the biggest web site projects that boasts of highly sophisticated car configurator features 3D models. The new Volkswagen.co.uk site offers the most updated online auto marketing. With just a few clicks on the mouse and without the inconvenience of going out, the web site promotes the most fabulous VW offers.

Tom Roberts, the Volkswagen site Account Director at Tribal, has this to say: "Buying a new car can be a confusing process. Using clean white space and featuring the most progressive car configurator currently available online, we built this site to be the most simple yet most comprehensive, intuitive and engaging experience in this market."

"Our research shows that people looking for a new car now do the majority of their research on the internet, with visits to showrooms more than halved, down from five to two on average,” said Marianne Nicholas, Volkswagen's Relationship Marketing Manager.

"The challenge for us was to respond to this change and ensure our website is equipped to give buyers and owners the information they need at the touch of a button. The old site has seen a massive rise in visits over the past three years - up from 500,000 in November 2004 to 1.4 million in November 2007, which clearly indicates the importance of the web in a customer's buying process. Our new site offers the most realistic experience on the web of what it's like to sit in and walk around a Volkswagen car - it's a richer, more responsive experience and heralds a new approach in the web's role in selling cars," she noted.

Key site facts:

This site is the result of 18 months' work with a dedicated team of 50 people
It is one of the largest websites to be built in Flex, providing a richer experience - in fact, the 15 strong Flex team hired by Tribal to build this site is thought to be one of the largest and most advanced Flex teams in the world
The site uses dynamic feedback, which allows car buyers to search and modify their preferred car in 'real time', which is more responsive and provides a much richer customer experience
It will allow people to book test drives directly on line
Taking into consideration all the different options customers can configure their car with, the site offers well over one million different combinations of Volkswagen

[credit: Fox Business]

Tata Motors Owns Jaguar, Almost

2008-02-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

We know that Ford is struggling as of today. The automaker has placed a lot of confidence on its large vehicles. SUVs and light trucks have been racking up sales for American automakers. But that was when the price of petroleum is still low and the United States' economy is still on the rise.

But today, the economy is slumping and the price of petroleum fuel is skyrocketing. This meant trouble for American automakers like Ford. The Dearborn automaker though has taken steps to battle this decline in sales of their large vehicles.

The automaker is now focusing on their core business which means they are shipping out their luxury marques such as Aston Martin which was sold early last year. After Aston martin was sold, Ford is now looking to sell its two British luxury marques in the form of Jaguar and Land Rover.

The two British luxury brands have been performing at s subpar level as few consumers in the United States of course are interested in purchasing expensive vehicles which eat up a lot of gasoline. And it seems that an Indian automaker is set to purchase the two prestigious British brands.

The said Indian automaker is Tata Motors. You might have heard of the name as the company has unveiled last month what would be the world's least expensive vehicle. If the Indian automaker succeeds in acquiring both luxury brands, it would really be a good boost for the company.

One advantage that they can get from acquiring the two luxury brands is that they would have a wide retail network where Tata Motors can easily market their own vehicles. Another advantage they may have is the technological prowess which Jaguar and land river represents. Tata Motors will be able to use those technologies on their vehicles.

To reap those benefits though, Tata Motors would have to shell put about $2 billion. Wow!

Electric Vehicles In Israel

2008-01-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

We all know that the auto industry is going green. This is not just true in the United States as other countries are also joining in the fight against the threat of global warming.

The Auto Channel recently reported that the Renault-Nissan Alliance joined hands with Project Better Place to promote the use of electric vehicles in Israel. The government of Israel will also work hand in hand with the automakers.

According to the report, here are some of the highlights of the initiative:

100% electric vehicles: Renault's vehicles will run on pure electricity for all functions. The objective of zero emissions will be achieved, while at the same time offering driving performances similar to a 1.6 liter gasoline engine. Renault's electric vehicles will be equipped with lithium-ion batteries, ensuring greater driving range and longevity.
Competitive cost of ownership: The Israeli government recently extended a tax incentive on the purchase of any zero-emissions vehicle until 2019, making them more affordable. Combined with the lower cost of electricity as opposed to fuel-based energy, and the vehicle's lifetime guarantee, the total cost of ownership for the customer will be significantly lower than that of a fuel-based car over the life cycle of the vehicle.
Perfect first mass market: In Israel, where 90% of car owners drive less than 70 kilometers per day, and all major urban centers are less than 150 kilometers apart, electric vehicles would be the ideal means of transportation and could therefore cover most of the population's transportation needs.
Innovative business model: For the first time in the electric vehicle business, ownership of the car is separated from the requirement to own a battery. Consumers will buy and own their car and subscribe to energy, including the use of the battery, on a basis of kilometers driven. This model is similar to the way mobile phones are sold, with an initial purchase and a monthly subscription for the mobility service.

Big 3’s Hot Cars At NAIAS

2008-01-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

What are being displayed inside Detroit's Cobo Center is truly remarkable. Imagine the most awesome car you can imagine. Take a pause. Imagination isn’t the only way to have a good glimpse of them. Visit NAIAS; they’re all there.

And Big 3 will never let the auto show pass without flaunting their aces. CNN writes:

FORD

2009 F-150
This concept certainly showcases Ford's new gasoline turbocharged direct-injection engine (GTDI) and may hint at a new design direction for the Explorer badge. Ford will roll out its efficient and powerful GTDI technology across four- and six-cylinder engines -- 500,000 units annually within five years.

The technology increases fuel economy 20 percent while cutting C02 emissions 15 percent. The Lincoln MKS also gets GTDI fitted to its 3.5-liter V6 first, boasting 340 horsepower and 340 ft-lbs of V8-beating torque.

Verve
This sub-Focus-sized sedan is designed by Ford Europe and is expected to be built South of our borders in time for the 2010 model year. Anticipate seeing something like this handsome concept along with the Verve Coupe that debuted in Frankfurt in the near future. But don't expect to see the frameless door glass make production. Pity.

CHRYSLER

2009 Dodge Ram
The Ram is thoroughly redesigned for 2009, and it's about time. A more powerful and efficient Hemi is under hood, but more importantly, a new Cummins light-duty clean diesel will be available in 1500s (this is a trend in itself).

Alternative-Fueled Concepts
Judging by the three's-not-a-crowd POV, Chrysler is showing the world it knows how to do "alternative." Their Dodge ZEO, Jeep Renegade and Chrysler ecoVoyager concepts all run on electric power, but produce and store that power in different manners.

GM

Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept
Cadillac's mid-size hydrogen fuel-cell powered concept looks like a 2008 Saturn Vue on glamour steroids. That's not a bad thing. Use this concept to see where Cadillac sees its styling headed and for specific engineering features to look for on Chevrolet's upcoming Volt (like the grille with computer-controlled openings to help better control aero drag).

Saturn Flextreme
Remember last year's show-stopper for General Motors? It was the Chevy Volt -- an advanced, practical, electrically-powered four-seat automobile that caught the eye of the press and public alike. After the positive response, GM dedicated huge resources to speed the Volt to dealerships sometime around 2010.

Hummer HX
Hummer isn't kidding anybody with their HX. It's the H4; a smaller Hummer aimed to challenge Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ. Our guess (based on general dimensions) is that this "concept" points to a production model built on a shortened H3 frame. GM's new 4.5-liter light-duty diesel will probably fit under the HX's hood. The engine that's already there is an E85 version of Cadillac's direct-injection 3.6-liter V6.

For more striking cars at the NAIAS, click here.

The Wrap-Ups of the 2007 PRI Trade Show

2007-12-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

The almost 45,000 spectators of the 20th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show were the witnesses to how the show has gone at its best. Held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida for three years now, although I’m not one of those lucky 45,000 present at the actual event, autocahnnel.com listed the major highlights…let’s not be left in the dark. See below.

A number of significant achievements at the world’s largest racing trade show were set this year:

Booth count was up to 4,250, with 1,450 exhibitors participating. Both are new records for the Show!

Visitors from across the U.S. were joined by attendees and buyers from 47 countries.
Fox TV NASCAR Commentator Jeff Hammond once again hosted a lively discussion at the Industry Roundtable with a number of expert panelists, with 700 in attendance.

2007 NASCAR Busch Champion Carl Edwards entertained a crowd of 3,200 at the Grand Opening Breakfast with personal stories about moving up the racing ranks from dirt to today’s superspeedways.

The second Snap-on Stars of Karting All-Stars produced a dynamic show, highlighted by its 18 pro drivers in the Masters division, from Jamie McMurray to Marco Andretti to Christian Fittipaldi and Ron Capps, all returning to their racing roots. Grand-Am’s Michael Valiante took the All Star win, while ICC National Champ Gary Carlton won the Karter Division race (and also placed second in the All Star race).

Friday night, Dec. 7th, 8,000 people were present for the 3rd Annual MOPAR-PRI Sprint & Midget Classic Presented by DHL at Orlando Speedworld to see tight, exciting racing in four feature races – Sprint Cars, Midgets, Focus and Legends. Bobby East won the Sprint feature race, while young Dakoda Armstrong took the Midget feature. NASCAR legend David Pearson served as Grand Marshall.

The AETC motorsports engineering conference preceded the PRI Trade Show and was well attended by racing engine builders, motorsports engineers and auto racing industry entrepreneurs.

The PRI Trade Show continues to offer companies, racing organizations and even individual racers and race teams the opportunity to make announcements. Highlights include:

Legendary motorsports journalist Chris Economaki announced Two-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz as this year’s Economaki Champion of Champions presented by Rockett Brand Racing Fuel

Mazda North American Operations showcased the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder and announced that Playboy would become the new title sponsor for the 2008 MX-6 Cup

Lyn St. James discussed her new motorsports program, Project Podium, the first ever endowed scholarship fund for women race car driver

Grand-Am Road Racing Association announced a new racetrack for ’08, Thunderbolt Raceway, at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, which will host a Labor Day weekend event for both its Rolex and Koni Challenge series.

Pontiac G8 Exports Underway to USA

2007-12-26T00:12:00.000-08:00

The Pontiac G8 is already on the go for export. The Pontiac G8 will be an additional product of GM Holden to cross from Australia to the market of North America.

As GM Holden starts to export the Pontiac G8 vehicles, its Elizabeth plant’s production will equally divided both for export and domestic production. The Adelaide-based Elizabeth plant will go into full blast production of 620 cars per day or at a rate of one car per 76 seconds.
The announcement for this GM Holden milestone was made in a Holden Vehicle Operations event in Adelaide, South Australia. Famous personalities were seen in the affair including new Federal Industry Minister Simon Crean MP, the Acting Premier of South Australia, Hon. Kevin Foley and Hon. Theo Theophanous, the Victorian Minister for Industry and Trade.

The Pontiac G8 will be available in showrooms and dealerships all over America during the first quarter of next year. According to GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Chris Gubbey, vehicle exports is needed for the company’s success.

“For 60 years, we have been producing world class vehicles primarily for the Australian market. That market has developed into one of the most crowded in the world with almost fifty brands now competing for a share of only a million new vehicles annually.

“GM has recognised Holden’s expertise and has entrusted the design and engineering of the Group’s large rear-wheel drive cars to us. This commitment is seeing us develop our exports which we see as a vital part of our business model going forward.

“The results are already evident. Vehicles are now rolling off the production line here at Elizabeth for export under internationally recognised brand names of Holden, Vauxhall, Chevrolet and now Pontiac. Next year, with our exports to Korea, we will add Daewoo to that list,” he said.

“In the last few years, over $500 million has been invested in upgrading the plant at Elizabeth giving GM Holden of the most flexible plants in the GM group,” said Chris Gubbey.

“This investment has enabled us to remain competitive and means we can achieve a diverse mix of models, both left hand and right hand drive, for markets around the world.”

Merry and Safe Christmas Driving

2007-12-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

The Automobile Association wants to make your Christmas and New Year driving merry and safe. The AA has prepared the following driving tips to help keep motorists safe this holiday period:

1. COURTESY – be courteous and show consideration to other road users. Obey the rules of the road. Plan your travel to avoid traffic jams and keep calm.

2. SPEEDING – excessive speed is a major cause of road accidents. Drive within the speed limit at all times and to the conditions. Watch ahead for slow traffic or road signs notifying a change in the speed limit. If you encounter sunstrike or heavy rain, or are unsure of the road, slow down.

3. MAINTAIN THE GAP – make sure you have a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front, so you have enough time to stop suddenly if you need to. Under normal driving conditions the two-second rule is an easy way to do this, although you will need to increase the following distance to four seconds in adverse weather or visibility conditions.

4. KEEP LEFT - keep to the left at all times unless overtaking, and then only if you can see 100 metres of clear road ahead of you once you have finished passing. Check your rear-view mirror and side mirrors regularly. If you are driving on the open road in peak holiday traffic turn on your main headlights in dip mode, this helps you to be seen by oncoming and overtaking traffic.

5. SEATBELTS – wear your seatbelt at all times, and ensure every passenger is securely restrained. Pay particular attention to children, and don’t forget to secure pets or loose items.

6. FATIGUE –get adequate rest and a good night’s sleep before setting off on a long road trip. Avoid driving at times you would normally be asleep, late at night or early morning are high risk times for fatigue crashes. If fatigued, pass the driving over to another driver, provided they are less fatigued, or quickly find a safe area where they can pull off the road to have a short powernap - 20 minutes is recommended.

7. DRUNK DRIVING – driving and alcohol don’t mix. If you’re attending a social function and intend to drink, leave your car at home or nominate a sober driver. Never get in a car with a drunk driver.

8. CELLPHONES – don’t text and drive, or talk on a mobile phone while driving. Statistics show that using a mobile phone while driving is as dangerous as driving over the legal blood alcohol limit. Ask a passenger to handle any phone calls, or if you’re travelling alone turn your phone off and check it only when you take a break.

9. CONSERVE FUEL – driving smoothly and avoiding unnecessary acceleration will reduce fuel consumption and be less stressful; you can cut 13% off your fuel bill by travelling at 100km/h instead of 110km/h. Reduce drag by keeping your windows up and not using a roof or bike rack unless you have to, and only use air-conditioning when absolutely necessary. Pull over somewhere safe and take a break if you get stuck behind a line of traffic.

10. LOVE YOUR CAR – have your car checked or serviced before starting on your holiday to minimise the inconvenience of a breakdown. Check the pressure of your tyres and make sure your registration is current, and if you own a diesel, buy plenty of reserve for the holidays.

The 2008 IHRA timetable

2007-12-19T00:23:00.000-08:00

For drag racing enthusiasts, nothing beats the IHRA. So I wont wonder that you are anxious of what the IHRA is cooking for next year’s series. I want to be of help so since I browsed this page from autospectator.com, let’s see what the 2008 IHRA would be like.

“Having to expand the schedule to accommodate the growing number of IHRA member tracks and weekly competitors is a good problem to have,” said IHRA Vice President of Racing Operations Skooter Peaco. “We have been able to make these events more exciting and a better value for our grassroots competitors by expanding the schedule. Our focus is on making these weekends full of bonus races as well as the main event so that the competitor can get maximum value out of the expense associated with traveling. With the help of our member tracks, we have been able to manage the numbers so that each event is still a big event, but competitors can race different races each day instead of spending an entire weekend for just one race. This multiple race in one weekend format has been working very well at the Summit Pro Am level and it only makes sense to work at finding more ways to put more fun and more racing into these championships at the local level.”

2008 Summit Team Finals Schedule
Division 1 Patriots Farmington Dragway October 23-26
Division 2 Heat Wave “West” Alabama International October 9-12
Division 2 Heat Wave “East” Darlington Dragway October 9-12
Division 3 NorthStars Pittsburgh Raceway September 25-28
Division 4 Renegades Dallas Raceway October 2-5
Division 5 Thunder Knoll Gas Motorsports Park September 1

“This head to head competition between the proven best racers at each local track continues to be the most talked about program for IHRA sportsman racers,” said IHRA president Aaron Polburn. “When you can literally compete against the best season long racers on the local, regional and national level it really elevates the meaning of winning the Summit Super Series World Championship beyond the $250,000 in cash and prizes awarded. This is about being the best all year, not just during one race a year and that is what makes this program different from all others.”

Ford Names Joe Hinrichs Group Vice-President for Global Manufacturing

2007-12-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

Last December 13, Joe Hinrichs got his new job description as Ford CEO Allan Mullaly named him as Group Vice-President for Global Manufacturing, effective on January 1, 2007.

Hinrichs is presently leading the North America Manufacturing of Ford as vice-president. In his new job, the 40 year old automotive veteran will now be in charge of the worldwide integration of the company’s manufacturing operations and its engineering support for vehicle, powertrain and stamping. His additional duty would be to supervise the company’s Material Planning and Logistics, Ford Production system, and Manufacturing Business Offiec organizations.

“Joe has been successful in leading the restructuring of our North American manufacturing operations and was a key participant in the recent contract talks with the UAW,” Mulally said. “In his new role, Joe will focus on delivering a global manufacturing plan that allows us to improve our efficiency while leveraging our scale worldwide. A global manufacturing footprint supporting a global product plan that delivers the vehicles people want and value are key to creating an exciting and viable company – that delivers profitable growth for all.”
Since Hinrichs will be performing a global and a North American role, he will be reporting to two immediate supervisors. For his global duties, he will be reporting to Mullaly and to Mark Fields for his North American role.

“Our plants in North America are more competitive and our launches are stronger, thanks in large part to Joe’s leadership,” Fields said. “Integrating manufacturing around the world and aligning it with product development on a global scale will make the entire business stronger.”

Before joining Ford in year 2000, Hinrichs had been into major manufacturing works. His major contributions at Ford were basically on the relation of the automaker and the United Auto Workers, basically its Labor force.

“I am excited by the opportunity to bring our plants and engineering functions around the world together into one, cohesive manufacturing operation,” Hinrichs said. “Integrating a global process plan and combining it with our global product plan allow us to accelerate our ability to produce the vehicles customers want around the world while continuing to improve quality.”

Ford Named One of CRO Magazine’s “10 Best Corporate Citizens”

2007-12-17T00:32:00.000-08:00

Ford Motor Co. now belongs to a new top ten list, the “10 Best Corporate Citizens by Industry 2007”. The honorific list was ranked by the Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO) magazine and Ford ranked as the fourth best automaker in the CRO’s Autos & Vehicle sector.

“We are honored to be recognized by CRO Magazine for our corporate social responsibility efforts,” said John Viera, director, Sustainable Business Strategies Office, Ford Motor Company. “Since we see sustainability as core to our business success, we have been working to develop metrics, targets and milestones to be explicitly integrated into our business plan. CRO’s recognition is one indicator that our efforts are paying off.”

The bimonthly journal worked with IW Financial, a research firm based in Maine specializing in environmental, social and governance issues in several sectors. CRO and IW financial based its winners on how each U.S. public companies in their performance in eight areas, Environment, Climate Change, Human Rights, Employee Relations, Corporate Governance, Lobbying, Philanthropy and Financial. The partnership of CRO and IW financial awarded ten companies in each industry.

“We saw this exercise as a valuable way to decipher companies’ performance on things like governance and sustainability issues, especially when looking at how they did when measured against the companies that they duke it out with in the marketplace,” said CRO Editor-In-Chief Dennis Schaal.

“Ford Motor Company’s inclusion among “CRO’s 10 Best” means the company’s citizenship efforts, based on the metrics considered, were at least several notches above many of the other companies in that industry,” Schaal added.

In this installment of “CRO’s 10 Best,” the magazine covers six specific industries: Auto & Vehicles; Paper; Technology Hardware; Technology Software; Transport; and Travel & Lodging. An earlier report published in CRO’s September-October issue analyzed the Chemical, Energy, Financial, Media and Utilities industries.

“CRO's 10 Best Corporate Citizens by Industry 2007” expands upon CRO's annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens,” which will appear in CRO's January-February 2008 issue.

GM’s Bob Lutz talks about retirement

2007-12-14T00:36:00.000-08:00

What’s General Motors’ most celebrated vehicle at the moment? After building a design studio, and after rolling the green carpet in Los Angeles, you will agree with me that there is no other than the Chevrolet Volt. Scheduled to debut and go on production in 2010, it will also be GM’s Robert A. Lutz’s cue for retirement. The GM boss made this announcement last Tuesday.

Volt’s media appearances, design and over-all development is headed by the 75 year old tycoon as GM’s vice-chairman for global product development. GM boasts that upon solving the challenges the Volt engineers are facing right now, it will be the mainstream electric sedan that can be plugged and recharge in an ordinary outlet.

"I'd like to see the Volt launched because I think that is an absolutely critical product," Lutz said in an interview with The Associated Press. The company has set sometime in 2010 as a loose date to roll out the Volt.

For more than 40 years of being a magnate in the American automotive industry, Bob Lutz said that there is no final retirement date yet. As long as his health will allow him and GM Chief Executive and Chairman Rick Wagoner together with the board members, Lutz will be very much willing to stay.

"You never know about your health. You never know about the needs of the corporation," he said in his office at the company's design center. "You never know what the board wants to do, or Rick wants to transition to a younger team. All of those things are possible."

GM expects that all their efforts and investments will be worth it as soon as the Volt hits the market in 2010. The plug-in vehicle can run 40 miles if its lithium-ion battery is fully charged and with the help of a small conventional engine to recharge the electric motor, the 40 miles range can be extended at an amazing 150 miles per gallon. In the new GM design studio for fuel-flex cars, the Volt’s hydrogen fuel cell version is being worked on.

Speculation over: Alonso names team for 2008

2007-12-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

In 2008, Fernando Alonso will return to the Renault team in an all-new line-up with Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr.

Renault team boss Flavio Briatorewas quoted in a statement last Monday saying, "Fernando and Nelsinho will form one of the most exciting driver line-ups of 2008."

Alonso said in an interview released by the team: "The decision hasn't been an easy one to make. I would like to thank all the other teams for their interest to have me work with them.

"I chose Renault in the end considering its commitment to the sport and because of its strong track record."

In 2006, Alonso left Renault for MacLaren but also split with the Mercedes-powered team at the end of November this year. Alonso’s leaving MacLaren was due to the team’s management refusing to give him special treatment than Hamilton.

He said: "I am delighted to be returning to Renault. This is the team where I grew up as a driver in F1. Now it is time for us to begin a new chapter.

"I'm confident that together we can move back to the front of the field."

In 2007, Renault was not able to win in any race.

Alonso went on: "Renault had a difficult year in 2007 but I know the team has real strength in-depth. I am confident it can produce a fast and competitive car and be back at the top in 2008."

Though he did not get the preferential treatment he demanded in the MacLaren team, he sure will get in Renault. After his failure to maintain his title and turning it over to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, the former champion is determined to win it back now that he’s in Renault once again.

Briatore said,"His abilities as a driver and a team leader are well known and we look forward to forging another strong partnership. He knows the team well and how we operate; he will feel comfortable straight away in this environment."

He also praised the team's young recruit: "Nelsinho is one of the most promising young talents in motorsport.

"After his success in GP2, he has spent a year learning the ropes as our test driver and getting to know the team; he is now ready to step up to the next level."

Playboy Crowns the Hottest Cars of 2008

2007-12-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

2008 is welcomed by Playboy by awarding their expected head turners, the “2008 Cars of the Year”. The top magazine for men sees it that 2008 is the year for high-performance hybrid outpacing former title holders, European imports ruling over domestic products and a premium car maker now making one of the most-fuel efficient vehicles at a cheaper cost.

Awards were based from test drives done by the automotive writers of the magazine themselves. The journalists traveled around the world, to evaluate each model sent by leading automakers in their showrooms. To determine the most deserving of them all, these vehicles were driven on tough driving conditions like steep hills, sharp turns. The award winning vehicles to be featured on the January issue of the magazine are as follows:

PLAYBOY'S 2008 CAR OF THE YEAR: Audi R8

This mid engine sexpot boasts a 420 bhp, 4.2-liter V8, and hits zero to 60 in a sexy 4.4 seconds

BEST LUXURY SPORTS COUPE: Maserati GranTurismo

Features a 405 bhp, 4.2-liter double overhead cam V8 packs 339 foot-pounds of torque

SMARTEST PURCHASE: Smart Fortwo

Sits eight feet by eight inches long and weighs a whopping 1,807 pounds

BEST SPORTS SEDAN: Cadillac CTS

With a base engine of a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 263bhp, it is just as quick as the CTS-V

BEST SUV: Land Rover LR2

Equipped with a Terrain Response feature that adjusts the AWD and suspension for driving conditions

BEST CROSSOVER: Buick Enclave CXL

Proudly sits on 19-inch wheels and is available with a luxury package including articulated headlights

BEST CONVERTIBLE: BMW 335i

Not only does it whip from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds, its light-weight steel top retracts in 22 seconds

BEST EARTH-DAY CAR: Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec

Outfitted with three catalysts and a filter in the exhaust that erases every trace of smoke and N2O

BEST PINT-SIZE PERFORMANCE: Volvo C30

Dances on the sporty side with its full-width glass hatch and clipped Manx bobtail

Double joy for BMW at ABC Awards

2007-12-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

The 2007 Australia’s Best Cars Awards had given the German premium maker, Bayerische Motoren Werke double joys with their BMW X5 and the BMW M3. The X5 grabbed the bragging rights in the Best Luxury All-Wheel Drive Category and the M3 won the title of Best Luxury Sports Car.

In 2001 and 2002, the X5’s predecessor also won the title in its category, and the second generation is even better with its 3.0d turbo diesel engine.

"The X5 did the job with consistently high scores and sealed the win with a couple of knockout punches in security, braking and handling; and, tellingly, 4WD ability," the Judges said.

"It's a big call to award a perfect 10 in any category, but it's particularly notable when it's for handling and we're talking about a large, all wheel-drive wagon.

"While this vehicle has the ability to be a serious off-roader, it is more likely to be appreciated for its luxurious appointments, precision handling and economy," Chief Judge Ernest Litera said.

The M3’s edge against its competitors is its F1 inspired V8 engine. In 2001 until 2003, the six cylinder parent M3 was an unswerving title holder.

"The BMW M3 is the ultimate example of precision and balance. This car has relegated some legendary machines to secondary status thanks to its technologically advanced 4.0-litre V8 and the best electronically managed selectable drive system. The M3 is simply an amazing machine to drive," Mr. Litera said.

"(The MDrive button) is a genuinely impressive feature that enthusiast drivers will love. You can dial up a setting to suit the conditions and your level of skill. You can have everything switched on and looking after you or partially/totally disabled for the ride of your life, especially on a racetrack," the Judges said in their summing up.

"The M3 is an amazingly competent, comfortable and rewarding sports saloon that happily 'tootles' around town and offers supercar performance and thrills when given its head," the Judges said.

"The ABC acknowledgement is an excellent reward for the thousands of dynamic BMW designers and engineers who consistently create the most exciting cars for the luxury market," said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia.

"The ABC Awards back up what our customers know. BMW always delivers cars that appeal strongly to both the heart and the head," Mr. Seemann said.

Where Gas are most expensive

2007-12-07T00:58:00.002-08:00

San Francisco is famed by the Golden gate bridge but its gas is "golden" too. So if you thought that the Pacific Coast Highway scenes are free, you’re terribly wrong because gas pumps make you pay for it. In a span of one year, the price of one gallon soared by more than one dollar from $2.524 last year to $3.646 this year. Imagine!

Out of ten major American cities, five of them are in California so we have the right to brand this west coast state to be also the priciest state to fill your fuel tank. I hope Governor Schwarzenegger is doing something about this.

Since I want to be of help, when you’re on a road trip or any drive, be advised to have gas reserves at the back of your car. These places will burn your pockets.

1. San Francisco, Calif.
Price per gallon: $3.546
Price last year: $2.534
Annual per-person traffic delay: 60 hours

2. San Jose, Calif.
Price per gallon: $3.440
Price last year: $2.441
Annual per-person traffic delay: 54 hours

3. San Diego, Calif.
Price per gallon: $3.360
Price last year: $2.476
Annual per-person traffic delay: 57 hours

4. Sacramento, Calif.
Price per gallon: $3.348
Price last year: $2.387
Annual per-person traffic delay: 41 hours

5. Los Angeles, Calif.
Price per gallon: $3.344
Price last year: $2.447
Annual per-person traffic delay: 72 hours

6. New York, N.Y.
Price per gallon: $3.275
Price last year: $2.400
Annual per-person traffic delay: 46 hours

7. Buffalo, N.Y.
Price per gallon: $3.268
Price last year: $2.386
Annual per-person traffic delay: 11 hours

8. Seattle, Wash.
Price per gallon: $3.219
Price last year: $2.524
Annual per-person traffic delay: 45 hours

9. Miami, Fla.
Price per gallon: $3.191
Price last year: $2.263
Annual per-person traffic delay: 50 hours

10. Chicago, Ill.
Price per gallon: $3.181
Price last year: $2.316
Annual per-person traffic delay: 46 hours

Small makes it big in Car of The Year

2007-12-05T23:33:00.000-08:00

The 2008 New Zealand Auto Car Magazine Car of the Year for the first time is entitled to a small car, the Mazda2 supermini.

Judges picked the minute Mazda against its behemoths which includes the Holden VE ute, Subaru Impreza, Ford Mondeo, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz C-Class, Lexus LS460, Audi R8, Toyota Highlander and the Audi TT Roadster.

"Mazda's engineers obviously know that every gram saved is one less that engine has to motivate, one less that a chassis must control in corners, and one less that the brakes have to arrest. They designed the new Two with this always in their minds, and the result is a car that effectively demonstrates that less really does equal more.

"Our judges were highly impressed with the way this car performed throughout the two-day judging process. It is a car that makes no apologies for being small, and combines a fun driving experience with the usual low cost of ownership that we associate with frugal superminis."
Because the small car’s edge over big vehicles is fuel consumption, Owen explained that fuel prices did not belong to the critearia of the panel of critics.

"Sure, the Mazda2 earned the highest score of the ten finalists for environmental impact, but winning this award required it to do a lot more than that. It needed to be a delight to drive on the road, and a thrill to chuck around on the track. In short, it needed to exhibit the pizzazz that most ‘sensible' cars lack."

The Best Technology of the Year award was received by Hyundai of New Zealand for making the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system standard in all their vehicle models. The ESC system helps reduce fatalities and injuries in collision accidents.

"There were plenty of new technologies released this year, but most had an emphasis on in-car entertainment or convenience. With this bold marketing step, Hyundai have set an example that we hope the rest of the New Zealand motor industry will follow. Stability control systems are proven life-savers on the road, but they need to be made more accessible to consumers to have an effect."

Japanese cars beat American and German nameplates,

2007-12-05T01:36:00.000-08:00

In the most recent Consumer Reports Annual Car Owner Satisfaction Survey, Japanese cars beat those carrying American and European DNAs. There was a total of 39 vehicle entries in the Consumer Reports’ Most Satisfying List and 18 of which are Japanese. Out of the 18 cars shouting their Japanese nameplates, 10 are with Toyota badges.

The Toyota Prius was identified as the most satisfying vehicle for four consecutive years now. Aside from being in the pinnacle of the survey, 92 percent of Prius owners even said that they are even willing to buy another Prius. Toyota’s pride is followed by the German BMW 335i coupe/convertible followed by the Porsche boxter gaining scores of 91 and 90 respectively. For more details of the survey, see below:

Most Satisfying

-- Small Cars: Honda Fit, Volkswagen Rabbit

-- Family Cars: Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion V6 (AWD), Saturn Aura

-- Large Cars: Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon

-- Upscale/Luxury Cars: Lexus LS 460, Acura TL Type-S, BMW 330i/335i (sedan)

-- Infiniti M35 RWD, Lincoln MKZ (AWD)

-- Sports Cars/Roadsters: Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayman, Chevrolet Corvette, Mini Cooper S (hatchback), Honda S2000, Porsche 911 Carrera, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Audi S4, Mini Cooper (Convertible), Ford Mustang (V8), Volkswagen GTI, Mini Cooper (hatchback)

-- Coupes/Convertibles: BMW 335i (RWD), Volkswagen Eos

-- Wagons/ Hatchbacks: Mazdaspeed3

-- Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey

-- SUVs: Lexus RX350, Ford Edge, Toyota Land Cruiser, Chrysler Aspen (4WD), Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4 (V6), Toyota 4Runner (V6)

-- Pickup Trucks: Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tundra (V8)

Least Satisfying

-- Small Cars: Chevrolet Cobalt (coupe, nonturbo), Saturn Ion (sedan), Chevrolet Cobalt (Sedan), Chevrolet Aveo (sedan)

-- Minivans: Ford Freestar, Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay

-- SUVs: Chevrolet Trail Blazer (6-cyl., RWD) GMC Envoy (6-cyl., RWD), Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Commander (V6), Chevrolet Equinox, Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6, gas)

-- Pickup Trucks: Dodge Dakota, Chevrolet Colorado (5-cyl.), GMC Envoy (5-cyl.), GMC Canyon (4-cyl.), Ford Ranger, Mazda B-Series, Chevrolet Colorado (4-cyl.), GMC Canyon (4-cyl.)

To be an entry in the Consumer Reports list of Most Satisfying vehicles, a model must be hailed by 80 percent of their owners, enough for them to say that they may buy or lease another of it. Meanwhile, those in the Least Satisfying List are those of which less than 50 percent of the vehicle owners say that they would want the same car. The winners are listed in their categories in order of the most satisfying auto.

Honda FCX showcased at University of Albany

2007-12-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

As part of Honda’s UAlbany Goes Green initiative, the Japanese auto maker has flaunted its FCX fuel cell vehicle at the University of Albany.

According to committee member Ken Jones, UAlbany’s Green Commerce Committee (an offshoot of the UAlbany Goes Green project) sent a special request to the Office of General Services (OGS), to be allowed to have the car displayed on campus.

In behalf of the State of New York, which has been leasing the vehicle from Honda at $500 a month, the OGS has been managing the use of the Honda FCX. OGS has established a small, compressed hydrogen fuelling station on the Harriman State Office Campus in Albany. It claims that the FCX has the capacity to run approximately 210 miles on a full tank of fuel. It has been normally used by state agencies like the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Honda has been leasing the cars to New York and other states at a lower price due to their goal to have the data collected on their usage.

Jones said that fuel cell vehicles will soon be used by everyday consumers, and not just by a selected few for trial purposes. He said, “This is what the future might look like.” “It is consumerism that drives the market. These are alternatives to fossil fuels that might work,” he added.

The UAlbany Goes Green initiative is focused in encouraging university staff and students to “think and go green” through recycling and conservation projects.

Such plans prove that Honda is eager to join the other top automakers in promoting greener environment as global warming threatens to persist.

The Honda Civic Hybrid for 2008

2007-11-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

Since Honda Civic Hybrid became one of the most popular hybrids in the market, the automaker was able to create the already solid reputation of the model as it carries the 2008 model of Honda Civic Hybrid into the crowd.

Though the Civic Hybrid was already great, Honda still made some improvements and advancements. It was made even “greener”. The 2008 Civic Hybrid gets an estimated MPG of 45. But, more than that, the Civic was given better fuel efficiency. There were also other positive mechanical changes made on the engine and power sources. Compared with its predecessor, the new Civic has an even lesser impact on the environment.

Honda made some significant styling and design changes for the 2008 Civic Hybrid. The car was even described as having a “gracious interior” and having a very smart and extremely attractive exterior fixture.

The great popularity of the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid was due to the fact that it relies upon regular unleaded gasoline. Even, users could easily fuel the vehicle at any gasoline station anywhere, unlike some other alternative fuel motor vehicle options.

As some may think that there is a need to “plug in” or charge up the battery through an electrical source, Honda believes that the battery should be self charging while the vehicle is being operated in the normal course of motoring.

The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid will be packed complete with a three year or 36,000 mile warranty. The battery pack will be provided with at least an eight year or 80,000 mile warranty, and it could even extend up to ten years or 150,000 miles in some states.

Another good thing is the fact that any Honda dealership in the country and in the world could provide service and repair for the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid.

The jury names Fiat 500 as the 2008 Car of the Year

2007-11-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

The jury from “Car of the Year” has decided to give the 2008 Car of the Year award to the Fiat 500. Since this year’s competition has not been closely contested compared with last year’s result, the Fiat 500 is presumed as an outstanding new car.

Based from “Car of the Year”, “Nostalgia and charm have been key factors in the good marks the Car of the Year 2008 Jury has given to the retro-looking 500, a car of classless appeal in the Fiat tradition… The top two cars this year were relatively small cars compared with last year’s SUV’s. The Fiat topped the pole by a sixty point margin over its nearest rival the Mazda2. In doing so the Fiat 500 received top marks from thirty four of the fifty eight Jury members. The Ford Mondeo was third, with two hundred and two points, the Ford S-Max won the top prize last year.”

To have a precise thought of how the judges voted, let us review what some of them have said (courtesy of epochtimes.com):

Diego Eramo (Italy) – “The modern reincarnation of the Fifties and Sixties legend, confirming Fiat’s talent for making small cars. The manufacturer is on top form, because the new 500 clearly shows the car’s progress in terms of quality, with good quality materials and finishings and careful construction. Low emission engines, active and passive security, comfortable, easy and pleasant to drive, an appealing design and a vast range of customisation options complete a truly winning picture.”

Jurgen Lewandoski (Germany) – “Off course everybody loves the Fiat 500 and I loved every mile behind the wheel of this marketing and retro miracle. Of course I am waiting for the Abarth and the Giardinette But as this is definitely not a new car, it cannot be a Car of the Year in my opinion.”

Andrew English (Great Britain) – “The ride is too hard, the rear seats too small and the noisy engine isn’t in the back like Giacosa’s original, but then you remember the price tag, the gorgeous interior and the smiling faces of people when they step out. OK this is Car of the Year, not retro-rebodied Panda of the year, but as Fiat's Luca De Meo says, ‘the Cinquecento 500 is a designer car for the man in the street.’ Yes, I’d need a Papal edict on compulsory days off for chiropractor appointments and Matt Monro’s Day’s Like These’ would be permanently on the stereo, but this car is cooler than gelato and it’s my Car of the Year winner by the length of the Apennines Way.”

Lasse Holmstrom (Sweden) – “It may be a Panda under cover, but 500 is a cute, nice-to-drive-car with personality and a lot of quality feeling. Five stars in crash test is also impressive”

Now, that leaves no doubt of Fiat’s capability to create an award-winning vehicle.

The Latest VW Scirocco Revealed

2007-11-26T22:48:00.000-08:00

Volkswagen (VW) AG, a German automotive manufacturer, has recently revealed the latest computer-generated image of its new Scirocco, which is expected to be launched late next year, with a price of £18,000.

Though VW noted this return of the Scirocco name to the company’s range as the first time since 1992, the new 2+2 coupe got a lot of difference from its predecessor.

Since 2006, the new Scirocco has been heavily previewed as the Iroc concept car at motor shows. It has based its platform with the same as the current Golf.

However, VW has not yet announced the engine options. But, it is expected to include everything from VW’s 120 bhp, 140 bhp and 170 bhp 1.4 L TSI units. It may also have several performance options, which might include 230 bhp and 280 bhp versions of the turbo-charged 2.0 L FSI.

Based on speculations, VW might as well consider a 250 bhp 3.2 L V6-powered car that features its 4Motion four-wheel-drive system.

Buyers are given the chance to choose between a six-speed manual or semi-automatic gearbox.

Unfortunately, VW, through Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of VW of America, has previously announced that there will be no VW Scirocco for North America. Jacoby said that the GTI and the R32 would be enough for the market as representatives for a niche segment. He said, “We need to focus on our core products,” such as the Rabbit (Golf), the Jetta, the Passat, and the Tiguan compact SUV. “The [2009 Scirocco] is lovely, but we can’t have everything,” he added.

Anyways, we still have to wait for the final specifications before getting too hooked with it. For the meantime, let’s hope it would be absolutely worth the proclaimed price.

The Coming of the Mazda CX-9 to Australia

2007-11-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

Some of you are now probably excited for the coming of the new Mazda CX-9. Well, now is the time to be more thrilled ‘coz Mazda Motor Corp., the Japanese maker, will be bringing it to the showrooms in Australia by next month.

Powered with a 3.7 L V6 engine, the bigger CX-9 will be producing 204 kW of power at 6350 rpm and 366 Nm of torque at 4250 rpm.

Compared with the Mazda CX-7 that uses a 2.3 L four-cylinder engine, the CX-9 has been built with a different platform. The bigger SUV’s wheelbase measures 2875 mm and its total body length measures 5074 mm.

Australia, according to Mazda, will be the first market to get the 3.7 L version of the CX-9. It will be available in two grades, namely Luxury and Classic.

Depending on the version, the new CX-9 will sit on either 18- or 20- inch wheels. It will be having three rows of seats with a total of seven-seat capacity.

The reasonable luggage space has been retained. Folding the third seat-row will provide 928 liters of space, while unfolded provides 480 liters.

The door opening has been made wider for the third-row passengers, stepping in behind the second-row seat.

Features will include stability control, roll-stability control, touch-screen audio with reversing camera, six airbags, cruise control, power windows and three-zone climate-control airconditioning with separate control for the rear.

The CX-9 for Australia will be provided with an ‘active torque split’ all-wheel-drive system. The system will automatically adjust the torque distribution to the front and rear wheels.

So, what do you think? Will you have one before New Year? If you are interested, you should better prepare about $50,000 to have it by next month.

All-New Mazda2 Sedan at the 2007 Guangzhou Motor Show

2007-11-20T19:12:00.000-08:00

Mazda Motor Corp. has presented the all-new Mazda2 sedan at this year’s Guangzhou Motor Show.

Produced by Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. at its Nanjing Plant, the all-new Mazda2 sedan has been designed to capture new customers in the rapidly growing Chinese B-car segment. Through the network of Changan Mazda Motor Sales Company, the version is expected to be on sale in the first half of 2008.

According to Noriaki Yamada, President and COO of Mazda Motor (China) Co., Ltd., “By introducing the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback to the B-car segment in China, we will have completed our product launches in the B, C and CD segments, which represent the three major Chinese vehicle classes. The new models will greatly strengthen Mazda’s product lineup in China.”

At a press conference, Mazda’s Senior Managing Executive Officer Kiyoshi Ozaki, said, “In fiscal year 2007, we expect to achieve our seventh consecutive year of profit growth and fourth straight year of record profit. Going forward, we will aspire to maintain our current growth by raising our brand value and enhancing our business efficiencies under our new mid-term Mazda Advancement Plan and our long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom. Achieving our mid-term target for China of ‘300,000 units of production and sales in 2010’ will be a key factor in our plans.”

As part of achieving the company’s mid-year objective, Satoshi Tachikake, President and CEO of Mazda Motor (China) Co., Ltd., said, “We have set up a production structure that comprises three facilities: the Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Nanjing plant, which was completed in September and features Mazda’s latest production and machining technologies, the Changan Ford Mazda Automobile plant in Chongqing, and FAW Car Company in Changchun.”

Mazda has also updated its sales network to optimize the company’s potential to achieve its mid-term target. It has established Changan Mazda Motor Sales Co., Ltd. (CMSC) and set its sales to commence starting January 2008 through two channels.

Accordingly, Noriaki Yamada, in charge of China sales, said, “The newly established Mazda Motor (China) Beijing Office will function as the representative of Mazda Motor Corporation. It will establish a reliable sales network by developing a unified brand strategy for the two sales channels and policies that will always benefit the customer. Mazda’s core products will be progressively introduced through the two sales channels to strengthen our product lineup. We intend to continue expanding our sales network, from the current 104 dealerships to a total of 160 for both channels by January 2008, and establish over 300 dealers by 2010.”

In the 2007 Guangzhou Motor Show, twelve vehicles from five model lines have represented Mazda. It has included the Mazda5 (a stylish global minivan that will go on sale in China beginning December this year) and Mazda3 5-door hatchback (a core model from Mazda that supports global sales mainly in Europe, Japan and Asia; sale in China is expected to begin within the first half of 2008). The all-new Mazda2 five-door hatchback was also placed on display.

The 5th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition began last Monday, November 19, which is considered the press day. Public days are set November 20 to 26. So, you still have the chance to visit the show and witness several new model cars on display.

Top Safety Picks for 2008

2007-11-17T01:28:00.000-08:00

Each year, we get to see a new set of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick. Last year, there were 13 vehicles that qualified and for this year, a significant improvement has happened. The number has more than doubled at 34 models.

The award is granted to vehicles that provide protection to people from front, side, and rear crashes. Being equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) is a significant factor to qualify, taking into account its capacity to reduce the risk of crashing. According to Institute president Adrian Lund, “Vehicles should be designed to provide good occupant protection when crashes occur, but now with ESC we have the possibility of preventing many crashes altogether… If all vehicles were equipped with ESC, as many as 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided each year.”

Lund said, “For 2008, consumers have the wildest selection of vehicles they’ve ever had that afford the best protection in the most common kinds of crashes.” Front and side impacts are the most common kinds of fatal crashes. Rear-end crashes are usually not considered fatal, but they cause large proportion of the injuries that occur in crashes.

Based on an article featured in theautochannel.com, the following are the 2008 top safest vehicles:

Large cars

Audi A6
Ford Taurus with optional electronic stability control
Mercury Sable with optional electronic stability control
Volvo S80

Midsize cars

Audi A3, A4
Honda Accord
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy with optional electronic stability control

Midsize convertibles

Saab 9-3
Volvo C70

Small car

Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control

Minivans

Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona

Midsize SUVs

Acura MDX, RDX
BMW X3, X5
Ford Edge, Taurus X
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Veracruz built after August 2007
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes M class
Saturn VUE built after December 2007
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs

Honda CR-V, Element
Subaru Forester with optional electronic stability control
Large pickup
Toyota Tundra

So far, twenty-three vehicles earn good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have SC, standard or optional. They would have been included in the list as 2008 Top Safety Pick winners if their seat/head restraints also earned good ratings:

Acura RL, TL
BMW 3 series
hrysler Sebring convertible
Infiniti M35/M45
Kia Amanti
Lexus IS 250/350, ES 350, GS 350/460
Nissan Pathfinder, Xterra both with optional side airbags
Nissan Quest
Toyota Avalon, Camry, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Prius, RAV4, and Sienna
Volkswagen Eos, Jetta, Passat, Rabb

If you intend to purchase a new car, consider picking one in the list. You may check out this site for more of the details.

2008 All-Stars Winners

2007-11-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

AUTOMOBILE Magazine, America’s leading automotive lifestyle publication, has recently announced the winners of its 2008 AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE All-Stars Awards.

According to Jean Jennings, editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE Magazine, “This year’s list includes a number of stalwart All-Stars winners, namely the iconic BMW 3-series, as well as new entries, such as Chevy’s impressive new Malibu and the sexy Volvo C30… These ten cars are the year’s most exciting cars, our picks for the vehicles we’d most like to personally own in our dream garage.”

The editors and bureau chiefs of AUTOMOBILE Magazine annually gather, specifically to test, evaluate and debate regarding the performance, significant and pure enthusiast appeal of the cars that has taken a big impact to customers.

Based on theautochannel.com, here is the list of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2008 All-Stars winners along with the editorial assessments:

Chevrolet Malibu – The best Chevrolet family sedan AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s staff has ever driven. Smooth, quiet, well-finished and more than able to keep up with more powerful cars, it represents a true sea change in what GM is offering the public. This is the kind of car Americans have wanted from Detroit for years.
Infiniti G37/G35 – The yin to the BMW 3-series’ yang. Picking a winner between them — which is to say, choosing the best sport coupe/sedan in the world — is less about what the cars can do than it is about what their drivers want. The interior of the Infiniti is a pleasure dome, but the car’s power is obvious the instant you punch the push-button starter and hear the feral growl of the engine.
Volvo C30 – A perfect example of smoothly chic, Scandinavian cool. The C30 is whisper-quiet, perfectly composed and has a six-speed manual that you could teach your grandma to row flawlessly in fifteen minutes. The car embodies the one perfect criterion for All-Stardom: anyone would have it.
Chevrolet Corvette – Evolutionary improvements keep the Vette in a class of its own. The revised 2008 edition does the 0-to-60-mph sprint in 4.3 seconds — with an automatic transmission. There are faster new cars than the Corvette, but all of them cost a lot more.
Mazda CX-9 – Trucks and sport utilities seldom earn a berth on the All-Stars list, but when was the last time you could call such a vehicle’s engine charming, or its transmission silky? The CX-9 ventures beyond the obligatory nine-to-five routine to play party animal in the off-hours.
Volkswagen GTI – The GTI is magic. What else do you call a hatchback that can shame supercars? The GTI eclipses the class-clown Mini Cooper for spark and verve, and makes sense for real people who actually have to lead real lives. Fast, fun, cheap, and German. If you don’t like it, you’re probably dead.
BMW 3-series – Maybe we should give it a lifetime achievement award. We didn’t set out hoping to give the 3-series another All-Star award — this is the car’s thirteenth — but then we got in the car and started driving. BMW still does chassis tuning like no other carmaker. The 3-Series is the car that instantly makes any mope who slides behind its wheel a better driver.
Mercedes-Benz S-class – This year, Mercedes got it just right. The car drips with luxury accoutrements and high-tech accessories, but the S-class is more than just the sum of its equipment list. Rides and handles in a way that belies its size, and comes with a quartet of engines that range from supremely competent to mind-blowing.
Lotus Elise – The mid-engine sportster is a bravura engineering performance that reprises the truest Lotus virtues, namely light weight and fealty to handling excellence. The best-handling sports car we know — an audacious-looking thing that goes from 0 to 60 mph in less than five seconds.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman – If you’re afraid people will think you bought a Cayman because you can’t afford a 911, we hereby inform you that those people are fools. The Boxster and the Cayman are exquisite to drive, with steering so communicative you’ll feel more of the road’s surface only if you crawl along it on your hands and knees. Few cars are as entertaining to drive at school-zone speeds.

The evaluation was made by the AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE staff, its worldwide bureau chiefs, and its contributors. The criteria include the following:

Redefines an existing category or creates a new market segment
Provides excellent value and performance for the money
Exhibits an exceptional design
Offers pure driving enjoyment

The list will be featured in the January 2008 issue of AUTOMOBILE Magazine, which will be available on newsstands this 4th of December.

IntelliChoice.com’s Best Car Deals for November 2007

2007-11-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

IntelliChoice.com, a market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis, has been consistently dedicated in assisting consumers to identify how car rebates affect a vehicle’s value throughout ownership and beyond the time of purchase, in the form of its “Best Deals” released every month. In fact, yesterday, it announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for cars, trucks, and SUVs for November 2007.

Vehicles classified as IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” are basically cars and trucks that are ranked with good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. Sometimes, a rebate turns a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of the Month”.

According to James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com, “What consumers need to know is that the best deals can change quickly from month to month. There are seven changes on our list of winners from October to November, which is a big number.”

“Gas is a big factor. Rising fuel costs favor fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrids, and there are six on the November list. Among non-hybrid vehicles, the Yukon knocked out the Sequoia. The Yukon beats the Sequoia on the MPG front, so as fuel costs rise, the opportunity arises to overcome the Sequoia’s strong retained value advantage,” he explained. “Another big factor consumers need to pay attention to are ever-changing car rebates… Changing rebates is what bumped October’s winners out of holding on to their titles for November. In the Full-Size Van category, the Ford E150 beat out the Chevy Express because the E150 offered a $2,500 rebate.”

New cars, trucks, and SUVs are being identified with the best ownership cost value in 33 respective classes. The basis includes current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer new car rebate. IntelliChoice.com also considers the latest information from various automotive resources in evaluation what it costs to buy, own and operate.

Based on tmcnet.com, here are this month’s “Best Car Deals” by vehicle type and size:

Subcompact Car – MINI Cooper Hatchback
Compact Car over $16,000 – Honda Civic Hybrid
Compact Car under $16,000 – Honda Civic Sedan
Midsize Car over $21,000 – Toyota Prius
Midsize Car under $21,000 – Toyota Prius
Convertible – MINI Cooper Convertible
Luxury Convertible – Audi A4 Convertible
Near Luxury Car – BMW 3 Series Sedan
Luxury Car – Lexus ES
Large Car – Toyota Avalon
Base Sport Car – Volkswagen GTI 2-door
Sport Car – Chevrolet Corvette
Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000 – Lexus GS Hybrid
Sport Sedan Wagon under $38,000 – Infiniti G35 Sport Sedan
Compact Utility/Crossover – Ford Escape Hybrid
Midsize Crossover – Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Luxury Crossover – Lexus RX 400h
Small Wagon – Toyota Matrix
Midsize/Large Wagon – Subaru Outback Wagon
Intermediate Utility – Hummer H3
Full-Size Utility – GMC Yukon
Luxury Utility – Lexus GX
Compact Pickup Truck 2WD – Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD
Compact Pickup 4WD – Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton – Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton – Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton – Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton – Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton – Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton – Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
Minivan – Honda Odyssey Passenger Van
Full-Size Van – Ford E150 Passenger Van
Cargo Van – Chevrolet Uplander Cargo Van

So… Which would be your pick?

Pricing of Smart Fortwo Released

2007-11-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

Smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc., (NYSE: PAG), has announced the pricing of the all-new smart fortwo models, which will be sold in the United States starting January 2008.

The smart fortwo is a technologically advanced vehicle designed to have over 40 mpg under normal driving conditions. The vehicle measures 8.8 feet in length, 5.1 feet in height and 5.1 feet in width. It will be equipped with several standard functional and safety features, including electronic stability program, anti-lock brakes and four air bags.

The all-new smart fortwo will be available in three trim levels. With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $11,590, the entry-level pure coupe will be provided with standard convenience features, including 5-speed transmission that permits the drivers to switch between automatic and manual driving modes through a push of a button, central remote locking system, 2-spoke leather steering wheel, and a radio-ready console.

With a starting price of $13,590, the well-equipped passion coupe will be available with panorama roof, alloy wheels, air conditioning with climate control, 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with gear shift paddles, power windows, electric and heated side mirrors, and an AM/FM radio with CD player.

There will also be a passion cabrio at a starting price of $16,590. It will be stuffed with a fully automatic soft top that can be easily adjusted with a push of a button. It will have a premium sound system with an in-dash mp3 compatible 6-CD changer, along with the standard equipment of the passion coupe.

All models will be powered with a 1-liter, 3-cylinder, 71-hp engine.

According to Dave Schembri, president of smart USA, “The smart fortwo offers a fantastic combination of fun to drive aspects, innovations, functionality – and all for a great value… In addition, all smart fortwo models will come standard with four air bags and many other safety features found in many luxury vehicles.”

At $850 MRSP, the passion coupe and the passion cabrio will be offered with an optional “comfort package”, which provides the models leather heated seats, electric power steering, rain/light sensors, and auto-off headlamps with exit delay.

Saab announced the pricing on Turbo X

2007-11-07T00:39:00.000-08:00

Last September, the Saab Turbo X, a driver-focused performance car, was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Recently, Saab has announced that there will be only 500 units of the limited edition models that will be on sale in UK. The starting price will be just £32,495.

The Saab Turbo X will be marking the introduction of XWD. It is a cutting edge all-wheel-drive system that will be sustained with competitive performance. It is actually the ultimate performance expression of the new Saab 9-3 range, as the Turbo X is powered with 280 hp 2.8 V6 turbo engine that produces 400 Nm of torque. The XWD will be featuring active management that does not only split torque delivery between both axles, but also between the vehicle’s rear wheels. It delivers a “never been before seen” level of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control that makes it a responsive system.

According to an article in xinhuanet.com, MPH 2007 will witness the UK premier of the Saab Turbo X. And, Saab Great Britain Managing Director Jonathan Nash said, “MPH is one of the high points of the automotive calendar and so it is fitting that we chose it for the debut of the Turbo X, which will undoubtedly be one of the talking points of the show.”

The Turbo X will be available with Saloon or SportWagon bodystyles.

For those you want to own one, you can now have your orders now at dealers. But, the delivery will be early next year.

Cars for Men and Cars for Women

2007-11-05T21:38:00.000-08:00

Basically, car companies avoid making gender-specific vehicles. But, “some cars are more masculine or feminine by nature”, said Jim Hossick, vice president and senior consultant at AutoPacific.

First, let’s talk about the preference of men. According to the studies conducted by AutoPacific, a market research firm focused on the auto industry, 93% of truck buyers are men. The study showed that males own approximately 9 out of 10 heavy-duty pickup trucks on the road. And, men usually choose the brands like Hummer, Dodge, Porsche and GMC.

There are male-friendly cars in the market. It includes the Ford F-350 and the Dodge Ram, of which men own 93% and 89% subsequently. According to Chrysler spokesperson Dan Bodene, that disproportionate numbers are created by a combination of marketing and design. In fact, the “Built Ford Tough” tag line can be heard during commercial breaks in NFL games. There are also other ads for the F-Series that features burly men in cowboy hats.

Bodene said, “It depends on the model, but the Ram tends to be used by guys who need that capability, either as heads of households hauling a lot of stuff, or on job sites in male-dominated professions.” Thus, door handles were made large enough for a man’s gloved hand. And, seats were made movable far enough away from the steering wheel to accommodate larger bodies or average American man, who is five and half inches taller and 27 pounds heavier than an average woman.

But, since automakers don’t want to discourage any potential buyers, the tailgates of even heavy-duty pickups were made light enough for all types of people to lift. And, seatbelts were made comfortable for both male and female body types.

On the other hand, females are usually more refined. Thus, they tend to choose Saturn, Honda, Volkswagen and Hyundai among other brands. In fact, about 65% of Volkswagen Beetle Convertible buyers are female.

VW spokesperson Keith Price mentioned that the New Beetle is bought and driven mostly by females. But, it was not because the designers worked on creating the vehicle as a woman’s car. He said that the car was initially launched having a dual appeal. After few years, they have discovered that the popularity of the vehicle was basically among women, brought up by the stylish design cues and more feminine colors, including “gecko green” and “sunflower yellow”.

Price said, “The female appeal of the car is one of the things that has sustained it over the years without a great deal of aesthetic change… but VW does absolutely not consider it ‘a woman’s car’.”

Hossick said, “People who have tried to make a vehicle that is female-centric have failed… Women might buy a ‘man’s’ vehicle, but men won’t buy a ‘women’s car’.” “If you can’t sell a car to boys and you can’t sell it to girls, then the market is going to be pretty small,” he added.

Well, that means the taste really matters even if the components of the vehicle are practical.

The Battle on Eco-cars

2007-10-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

Eco-cars… green cars… hybrid cars or electric cars… or whatever you call it… these are what hot for people these days. In fact, it is the hottest subject of conversation at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

In the event, several major automotive companies, including Toyota, Honda and General Motors, flaunted their latest ideas and plans for hybrid vehicles. Going hybrid (using a combination of traditional fuel and electric or battery power) has caught the public imagination.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest automaker, showed off its Prius. The company was able to have 7500 units of the vehicle sold in the UK for the first nine months of this year, showing a very big improvement from approximately 5000 units for the whole of 2006. And so, they are expecting to have about 400,000 units sold around the world this year. Aware of the heightening demands for hybrid, it has unveiled the next generation, the 1/X. It has a lightweight carbon-fiber body, making it a third of the weight and twice as efficient as the Prius.

General Motor Corp., an American multinational corporation, has been working on its hybrid, the Volt, which will be out by 2010. And, Mitsubishi, a Japanese automaker, works on its electric car, the i-Car, which will be available in the market in 2009.

Everyone seems to be focused on the fuel economy those green cars offer. We barely realize that though such vehicles have low carbon emission, they are expensive to produce and run. Some breeds, like hydrogen-powered cars, are not considerably practical, since hydrogen could not easily be distributed.

According to a recent study, there were 13,381 new alternatively fuelled vehicles in Britain for the first nine months of this year. However, “that pales in comparison with the figure for standard vehicles: 1.9m so far in the UK is 2007,” an article in thisismoney.co.uk has mentioned.

Howard Wheeldon, senior analyst at BCG Partners, said, “We’ve heard that the green motor car has come of age but we are a long way from that.” He also said, despite the slow burn, “now there is going to have to be action”.

The rise in oil price, which has quadrupled in the past five years, has triggered the demand for green cars. Considering the cost of the car, however, doesn’t make the use of green cars an actual solution for the need to save money on petrol. Hybrids are not cheap. The Prius, at £18,000, costs twice the price of an average conventional car.

Despite that snag, the government encourages the people to buy and drive those eco-friendly models for them to avoid road tax, the congestion charge in London and the parking charges in Westminster.

In addition, the EU is even planning to impose stricter CO2 reduction targets. Last week, the European Parliament called for the manufacturers to cut the allowed CO2 emissions. They will impose penalties and fines on firms who fail to meet the targets.

The Japanese automakers are in lead on hybrid technology. And, considering the EU move and pressure, European firms, like Renault and Peugeot, would most likely join the trend.

Wheeldon said, “The losers are going to be those who have not got it right by the time the European regulations come into force.”

Now, automakers will face the problem of developing new engine types for green cars. We are just then left to think of what type (petrol-electric or diesel-electric hybrids, hydrogen-powered fuel-cells or lithium batteries) they would be having.

IntelliChoice.com’s 2008 Top Certified Pre-Owned Awardees

2007-10-26T21:16:00.000-07:00

IntelliChoice.com is well-known as the country's leading provider of automotive ownership cost and value analysis and is part of Source Interlink Media. For about 21 years, it has been committed to empowering consumers in making better purchase decisions through providing them with independent and essential automotive information and tools.

Eight years ago, IntelliChoice.com started initiating a certified pre-owned (CPO) awards program to address the significant growth of the CPO offering and consumer demand for comprehensive analysis. It has rated on a set of criteria that consumers identify as having the most value. The criteria include extended car warranties, title verification, certification inspection process and roadside assistance along with special financing and return exchange policies.

Recently, IntelliChoice.com announced the winners of this year’s, its ninth annual, ranking of CPO manufacturer-sponsored programs.

Here is the complete ranking, unveiled at the 2008 National Remarketing Conference & Used Car Expo, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and featured in theautochannel.com:

LUXURY
Volvo
Cadillac
Jaguar
Saab
Lexus
Hummer
Audi
BMW
Lincoln
Porsche
Acura
Infiniti
Land Rover
Mercedes-Benz
NON LUXURY
Volkswagen
MINI
Hyundai
Honda
Scion
Toyota
Saturn
Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep
Nissan
General Motors
Suzuki
Mercury
Ford
Mazda
Subaru

Overall, Volvo won over Cadillac for the best Luxury program. For the fourth straight year, Volkswagen was recognized for best Non-Luxury program.

According to James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com, “The luxury field in CPOs is very competitive, but Volvo edged out Cadillac on the basis of a strong compliance program.” “In general, the top luxury programs offer similar car warranties, and many receive high scores, which shows that Volvo had the extra edge over the competition,” he added.

In the non-Luxury program, Hyundai made the most progress by moving from last place in 2007 to third this year. Bell said, “Hyundai’s inspection score went from 58 to 90.”

“They accomplished the feat of climbing up out of last place by making several positive changes, including new special car financing offers, requirement of a VHR, and the expansion of their car warranty from 6 years to 10,” he explained.

But, what are CPOs? Actually, CPOs are cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles that have been leased or traded in and thoroughly inspected prior to sale. IntelliChoice.com, being the only consumer automotive site that evaluates and ranks all CPO programs, said that CPO vehicles will only play a larger role for consumers, car dealers and automakers.

Bell said, “CPO programs hinge on used car inventory… Leasing has not been very popular for the last few years, and that limits CPO vehicles that are on the market today. However, car leasing is gaining in popularity this year due to rising interest rates, and we expect the same will happen in 2008. This in turn will drive CPO inventory in the years to come.”

Bell also mentioned that this year’s criteria for the CPO awards differ from last year’s. And, it is to accommodate consumers’ demand for comprehensive auto warranty programs on CPO vehicles derived from their proprietary Used Car Cost of Ownership Analysis.

In 2007, there were more than a million CPO vehicles sold. Since such number will surely boost challenge in 2008, all major automakers are now having a CPO program and IntelliChoice.com investigates and analyzes 31 different manufacturer programs.

Looks like competition's heating up.

Top 44 at the 24 Hours of LeMons

2007-10-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the folks over at jalopnik.com reported about the 24 Hours of LeMans race and its winners. It's a real race guys with real cars, and here are the results:

Black Iron Racing – This is the one in the picture above. It looks like more of a pickup truck, isn’t it? But, it is actually a BMW 5-Series with most of its rear body hacked away. It was able to win the race by seven seconds.
Circus Maximus – Another BMW
Everclear Racing
Motoring J Style – An MR2
Lawrence Welk'em Wagon – A Miata
Team Uber Vogel – A Mercedes
Eyesore Racing – A CRX
Blue Goose Racing – Another CRX
Team Flocker
Group of Foolz – A BMW again
Prelude To Greatness Racing Team
Old Dogs New Tricks – A Jaguar
Team Size Matters
Dilligaf – A CRX again
Pit Crew Revenge – A honda
Edge Motorsports 1 Spooky
Team TuRD
Snowspeeder Pilots Association – An MR2
Canola Rollaz – A biodiesel Benz
Spirit of San Diego – A Chevy
Redemption Racing – A CRX once again
Volvos From Hell – A turbocharged 700-series Volvo
Size Matters Washington – A 318-powered Fury
Team Scooby – A Subaru
Saabs Gone Wild B
Edge Motorsports 3 Pumpkin
Are We There Yet Racing
Mach Schnell
Do Or Die – An ’82 Cadillac
Deepest Valley Racing – Another Chevy
Poly Orchid Racing – A 740iL
Fish Out of Water
Yuppy Rednecks
Mazdasaurus Wrecks
California Mills – A ’79 Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Uncle Sam
Keg Kar
Team Autoblog/Modacar – An RX-7
Low Bucks High Boost – A Mitsubishi
Kung Fu Fighting Irish
Carpet Pissers
Evilengineering.com
Team Santa Cruz
SFFL BMW Sauber

Visit this site for more cool photos and details.

Audi: Tossers’ Vehicle of Choice

2007-10-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the ‘Whit Car’ annual study of car ownership was released. Among the surprising results, it has been notable that the ‘Wankers’ are now attracted to own an Audi, more than a BMW. And, the Audi A4 was significantly their model of choice.

Based on the study, the most of Audi drivers are those people who consider themselves as ‘Smug gits who think they own the road’. Also, they were more likely to ‘hog the outside lane at 95 mph, flashing cars ahead of them to get out of their way” and even ‘nip over the center line when overtaking parked vehicles causing oncoming traffic to break suddenly, even though they don’t have right of way’.

Bernard Bumpersticker of ‘Whit Car’ Magazine, according to an article in thespoof.com, said, “Your typical Audi Driver, is likely to be male, between the ages of 30-45, in a high paying job, an arrogant arsehole, with no real friends except those that want to network with him. He also has a faint smell of cheese about his person who he masks with Hugo Boss aftershave.” “But this is of no surprise really as this market segment has been very heavily targeted by Audi. Drivers now know, that when they see the familiar Audi rings in their rear view mirror, what sort of person is just an inch away from their rear bumper,” he added.

Bumpersticker even commented on BMW’s fall and said, “BMW owners tend to fall into two categories, those who are trying hard to impress but don’t have enough sense to realize that they are ten years too late and teenage drug dealers. I’m sure though that once BMW they sort out their marketing they will become fashionable to tosspots again.”

Before any of you BMW fans get all riled up with the German brand losing to Audi and all, please take note that this is just a fictitious little story from the comedy writers at thespoof.com. You know, they can always make the BMW the winner next time.

The Return of the Black Saab Turbo

2007-10-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Turbo X Limited Edition has been unveiled with tribute to the first 900 Black Turbo. This Black Turbo marked the beginning of the blown Saab for more than 30 years ago.

The Turbo X has been highly exclusive for Australia, considering that there will be only 30 models delivered to the U.S. market in the first half of 2008.

Both the limited edition sports sedan and wagon are turbocharged to create 206 kW and 400 Nm of torque from a 2.8 L V6 engine.

The sports brake package offers a set of 18 inches alloy wheels with suspension matching the front grille and headlight surrounds. It is darkened but well considered as new 9-3 face.

The XWD system is the most impressive among several innovative modifications in creating the new 9.3.

The on-demand all-wheel drive system offers two separate torque splits: one dividing the twist between the front and the rear wheels, while the other doling out torque to individual rear wheels.

Also, Saab will be introducing a high performance diesel in 2008 along with the coming of its 9.5 BioPower range.

The BMW Turbo X, powered with renewable Ethanol/petrol, was tuned to run under E85 flex-fuel, or a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petrol. Such mixture optimizes the power in the 9.5 by about 20 per cent compared to the standard petrol variants. However, there are only a few bowsers in the areas selling the E85. And so, customers will be having the Turbo X ran on E10 or 10 percent ethanol fuel. The standard power will just then be followed not until bowsers will offer them.

2007 Greenest and Meanest Vehicles

2007-10-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

Environmental concern is a very big issue in the current times as fuel price continue to mount. It has been somewhat a trend these days that people keep on talking about and craving for not just safe vehicles but also those that offer fuel efficiency and lesser emissions.

Here's a listing of the Greenest Vehicles of 2007 featured in greenercars.org, which includes the vehicle’s specifications, emission standard, mpg in city and highway driving. Enlisted are the vehicles that have high fuel economy and was able to meet one of the stricter low-bin Tier 2 standards (bin 2 through bin 4) or Phase II low-emission vehicle standards (ULEV II, SULEV II, PZEV):

HONDA CIVIC GX - 1.8L 4, auto compressed natural gas - Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV - 28 mpg city – 39 mpg highway
TOYOTA PRIUS - 1.5L 4, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV - 60 mpg city – 51 mpg highway
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - 1.3L 4, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV - 49 mpg city – 51 mpg highway
NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID - 2.5L 4, auto CVT PZEV - 42 mpg city – 36 mpg highway
TOYOTA YARIS - 1.5L 4, manual - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 34 mpg city – 40 mpg highway
TOYOTA COROLLA - 1.8L 4, manual - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 32 mpg city – 41 mpg highway
TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID - 2.4L 4, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV - 40 mpg city – 38 mpg highway
HONDA FIT - 1.5L 4, manual - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II - 33 mpg city – 38 mpg highway
KIA RIO / RIO - 5 1.6L 4, manual - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 32 mpg city – 35 mpg highway
HYUNDAI ACCENT - 1.6L 4, manual - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 32 mpg city – 35 mpg highway
HYUNDAI ELANTRA - 2.0L 4, auto - PZEV - 28 mpg city – 36 mpg highway
HONDA CIVIC - 1.8L 4, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 30 mpg city - 40 mpg highway

Also, here is a list of Gasoline Vehicles that scored well enough:

TOYOTA PRIUS - 1.5L 4, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV - 60 mpg city – 51 mpg highway
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - 1.3L 4, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV - 49 mpg city – 51 mpg highway
TOYOTA YARIS - 1.5L 4, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 34 mpg city – 39 mpg highway
HONDA FIT - 1.5L 4, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II - 31 mpg city – 38 mpg highway
FORD ESCAPE HYBRID - 2.3L 4, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 3 / PZEV - 36 mpg city – 31 mpg highway
FORD FOCUS WAGON - 2.0L 4, auto - Tier 2 bin 4 - 27 mpg city – 34 mpg highway
HYUNDAI SONATA - 2.4L 4, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 24 – 33 mpg highway
MAZDA MX-5 MIATA - 2.0L 4, auto stk premium gasoline - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 22 mpg city – 30 mpg highway
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID - 3.3L 6, auto CVT - Tier 2 bin 3 / SULEV II - 32 mpg city – 27 mpg highway
TOYOTA TACOMA - 2.7L 4, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II - 21 mpg city – 27 mpg highway
TOYOTA SIENNA - 3.5L 6, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II - 19 mpg city – 26 mpg highway
GMC SIERRA CLASSIC C1500 - 4.3L 6, auto - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II - 16 mpg city - 21 mpg highway

You may also consider knowing the following 2007 Meanest Vehicles for the Environment:

VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG - 5.0L 10, auto stk 4wd diesel fuel - Tier 2 bin 10 - 17 mpg city – 22 mpg highway
MERCEDES-BENZ GL320 CDI - 3.0L 6, auto 4wd diesel fuel - Tier 2 bin 10 - 20 mpg city - 25 mpg highway
LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO - 6.5L 12, manual 4wd premium gasoline - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II 9 mpg city – 14 mpg highway
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - 3.0L 6, auto 4wd diesel fuel - Tier 2 bin 10 - 20 mpg city – 24 mpg highway
BENTLEY ARNAGE RL - 6.7L 8, auto stk premium gasoline - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II - 10 mpg city – 15 mpg highway
MERCEDES-BENZ R320 CDI - 3.0L 6, auto 4wd diesel fuel - Tier 2 bin 10 - 21 mpg city – 28 mpg highway
MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 CDI - 3.0L 6, auto 4wd diesel fuel - Tier 2 bin 10 - 21 mpg city – 27 mpg highway
MAYBACH 57 S / 62 S - 6.0L 12, auto premium gasoline - Tier 2 bin 8 - 11 mpg city – 17
BENTLEY AZURE - 6.7L 8, auto stk premium gasoline - Tier 2 bin 5 / LEV II - 11 mpg city – 16 mpg highway
FORD F-250 - 5.4L 8, auto 4wd - Tier 2 bin 8 - 13 mpg city – 17 mpg highway
DODGE RAM 2500 MEGA CAB - 5.7L 8, auto 4wd - Tier 2 bin 5 - 13 mpg city – 18 mpg highway
LINCOLN NAVIGATOR - 5.4L 8, auto 4wd - Tier 2 bin 5 - 13 mpg city - 18 mpg highway

You may check this site for their individual green scores.

The lists may not have included the recent released models of which might offer better fuel economy than the above mentioned.

The Subaru Exiga Concept

2007-10-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Subaru, a Japanese automaker, is proud to present the Exiga, an all-new seven-passenger touring wagon. The vehicle features the automaker’s signature symmetrical all-wheel drive and horizontally opposed engine.

Later this month, Subaru will be having its Exiga on display at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. There, it will flaunt the new wagon with a new chassis.

The Exiga is powered by a turbocharged 2.0 L engine with five-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, the concept wagon provides occupants a 360-degree panoramic view with a super-size glass roof and theater seating, all perched high enough for the passengers to enjoy the greenhouse. The vehicle is also comprised with eight “view monitors” in the instrument panel, which is mainly provided to remove virtually all guesswork or excuses when maneuvering the large vehicle. There is also a wedge-shaped side rearview camera incorporated to the A-pillar.

The deck is inspired with white and blue interior. It has been enhanced by the clear blue display zone across the instrument panel.

Comfort and convenience was also provided along in the car. It comes with folding tables incorporated at the back of the seats. That makes more like in an airplane. And, it even provides indirect lighting in the ceiling and side doors to create a wonderful ambience at night.

Well, that’s all it for now. We just have to wait for the Tokyo Motor Show to know more about the Exiga. Good enough that it’s only few days far that we don’t have to keep our excitement further contained.

Features of the 2009 Dodge Journey

2007-10-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what the latest is from Dodge? Well here's something we all can watch out for, especially those with family: the 2009 Dodge Journey. This upcoming Dodge model features a lot of impressive features offering the practicality of a minivan together with the capability of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and the overall efficiency of a passenger car. All this combines to create all the best attributes for an all-new “right-sized” crossover.

An article from autospectator.com presented the technologies comprised in the 2009 Dodge Journey, which includes the following:

MyGIG™ cutting-edge multimedia audio and entertainment system
Available ParkView™ Rear Backup Camera displays the view behind the vehicle in the navigation display when backing up or parking
Available Full-color, GPS Map Navigation System with 7-inch (17.8 cm) display provides convenient directions and traffic alerts
Chill Zone™ cooled beverage storage bin located in the glove box helps keep two cooled 12-oz. (330 ml) cans cool through the air conditioning system or fresh air inlet
YES Essentials Premium Cloth Seats are stain resistant, odor resistant and anti static for easy cleaning and a long-lasting appearance
Available Aimable LED Map/Reading Lamps provide focused light without distracting the driver
Available Removable, Rechargeable LED Flashlight is stored in the rear cargo area for convenient light when needed
Illuminated Cup Holders glow blue green for easy nighttime access
Available Rear-seat Entertainment System includes an 8-inch (20.3 cm) color monitor that works with the radio DVD player. The display conveniently folds down from the headliner to entertain rear seat passengers
Available 115-volt, 150-watt Power Inverter on the rear of the console powers small household appliances (available in North America)
Available SIRIUS™ Digital Satellite Radio offers a variety of subscription-based radio programs and music for enhanced listening enjoyment (available in North America)
Available UConnect™ provides convenient, hands-free communication with BlueTooth™ cellular phones
Four 12-volt Power Points for powering small electronics. Two are in the front, one is in the second row and one is in the cargo area
Available Remote Start starts a secured vehicle with the key fob for added convenience (available in North America)

In addition, these are the seating and storage features:

Standard Five-passenger Seating with Available 5+2 Seating provides flexible seating and cargo capability
Available Occasional Use, 5+2, 50/50-split Third-row Seat with Recline feature folds flat for added cargo space when not in use
90-degree Rear Door Openings make it easier to load and install child safety seats and provides access the available 5+2 seating
Fold-flat Front Seat with Flip ’N Stow provides storage under the seat cushion and a table-like surface when folded flat for added cargo flexibility. The seat cushion flips forward to reveal a 10.75 x 8.75-inch (273 x 222 mm) bin. The cushion can remain in the forward position to prevent items from sliding onto the floor
Two Second-row In-floor Storage Bins located in the floor behind the front row seats are designed to hold 12, 12-oz. (330 ml) cans plus ice or other items conveniently out of sight. The bins feature latching lids and removable, washable liners for added convenience
Stadium Tip ’N Slide Seat provides easy entry to the third row with one-hand, one-motion operation
Tri-fold Load Floor located behind the second-row seats provides a hidden storage compartment for added utility. The load floor is reversible and configures into a “grocery bag” position. The primary side of the folding panel is carpeted for durability
Rear In-floor Storage Bin for 5+2 Passenger Vehicles includes a hidden storage bin behind the third-row seat. For added utility, a door in the bottom of the bin provides access to the tool and jack storage compartment
Child Presentation Feature allows the driver to attend to a small child in the second-row seat when the vehicle is stationary
Available Child Booster Seats for children 4 foot 9 inches (1.45 m) tall and between 48 lbs. (22 kg) and 85 lbs. (39 kg), raises the child into the adult belted zone
Activity Center in second row seatback folds forward to provide two cup holders and a bin for storage of small electronics, snacks, crayons or other small items
Sunglass Bin with Child Observation Mirror features convex glass for a wide field of view that allows the driver and front passenger to conveniently view the rear occupants
Sliding Center Arm Rest moves forward 3 inches (76 mm) for driver comfort
Available Heated Front Seats with Leather or Premium Cloth enhance the comfort of the driver and front passenger (segment exclusive in North America)
Molded Map Pockets with Bottle Holders in all four doors enhance storage and convenience

And when it comes to safety, the all new Dodge journey provides:

Advanced Multi-stage Front Air Bags provide nearly instantaneous occupant protection by matching air bag output to crash severity
Low-risk Deployment Air Bags are included for smaller and out-of-position occupants
Front Seat-mounted Side Air Bags deploy for enhanced thorax protection during a side impact
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtains with Extended Up Time deploy down to provide all three rows vehicle occupant head protection during side impact
Structural Driver and Front Passenger Knee Bolsters control occupant kinematics and reduce leg loads
Available Child Booster Seats for children 4 foot 9 inches (1.45 m) tall and between 48 lbs. (22 kg) and 85 lbs. (39kg) raise the child into the adult belted zone
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) modulate the brakes for the driver to provide steering control while braking
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) applies selective braking or throttle reduction to control oversteer and understeer
Brake Assist ensures maximum braking action during panic stops
Traction Control reduces the throttle and/or applies selective braking to optimize traction during acceleration
Electronic Roll Mitigation determines when the vehicle is in a potential roll over condition and applies appropriate braking force to reduce the likelihood that such an event will occur
Rollover Sensing deploys seat-mounted side air bags, side-curtain air bags and seat-belt pretensioners
Trailer Sway Control helps maintain vehicle and trailer system stability by applying selective braking
Event Data Recorder records the nature of a malfunction or impact event for retrieval using a service diagnostic tool
Available ParkView™ Rear Backup Camera displays the view behind the vehicle in the navigation display when backing up or parking
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) alerts drivers to low tire pressure(s) to facilitate safe handling
Brake-park Interlock prevents automatic transaxle from being shifted out of Park or Neutral without first applying brakes
Side Guard Door Beams in front and rear doors provide occupant protection in the event of a side impact

Not bad for a minivan right? But, that's not all. More of the new vehicle's features can be found in this site. Just click to satisfy your curiosity.

Core Values of the 2008 BMW 7-Series

2007-10-11T04:26:00.000-07:00

The BMW performance-luxury 7 Series sedan is up in continuing being the class benchmark for 2008. Among models comprised are the 750i, 750Li and 760Li, which all have benefited from BMW’s innovative performance and safety technologies, along with providing comfort and distinction to every BMW vehicle there is.

Actually there are a lot of features provided for the 7 Series models. For now, I would love to share with you the core values of the models that you might love to know:

Highly sophisticated powertrains. The 7 Series offers two of the most sophisticated engines available in the world, in the form of BMW’s 4.8-liter V-8 and 6.0-liter V-12. Both engines feature all-aluminum construction, with silicon-impregnated cylinder bores that eliminate the need for heavy cast-iron liners. Both engines also feature BMW’s unique Valvetronic valve-control system, which eliminates the need for a conventional throttle by varying valve lift to control acceleration. The resulting efficiency provides excellent power and smooth acceleration with minimum fuel consumption. Both of these engines are backed by BMW’s 6-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission, which also provide exceptional response and fuel economy.
Aluminum suspension system. Extensive aluminum in the suspension and brakes reduces unsprung weight, improving the suspension’s response to bumps and other road irregularities. This contributes to ride comfort and, on any irregular road surfaces, handling as well.
Active Roll Stabilization – reduces body roll or “lean” in cornering, further improving handling and communicating to driver and passengers alike these cars’ great road competence via amazingly “flat” cornering.
Rack-and-pinion steering with variable ratio and variable assist. Not only is the power assist variable according to road speed; the steering ratio (the number of degrees the steering wheel must be turned to steer the front wheel by one degree) also varies moderately, making the steering “quicker” as the wheel is turned away from its center position. This fine-tunes steering response to conditions, be it on an Interstate at today’s high cruising speeds or maneuvering into a parking space. Note: This is not BMW’s Active Steering which, as an option on the 5, 6 and new 3 Series, varies the steering ratio more dramatically.
Massively sized, powerful brakes. 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes are dimensioned 348 mm/13.7 in. front and 345 mm/13.6 in. rear for impressive stopping power.
Generously dimensioned wheels and tires. On the 750s, standard 18 x 8.0 wheels carry 245/50R all-season tires. Optional on 750s and standard on the 760Li are 19 x 9.0 front/19 x 10.0 rear wheels with 245/45 front / 275/40 rear performance tires. The BMW Individual Composition adds 20 x 9.0 front / 20 x 10.0 rear wheels with 245/40R-20 front / 275/35R-20 rear performance tires. Identically-sized 20-in. wheels (of a different design) and tires are included in the optional Sport Package for 750i and 750Li models.
Lavish luxury, elegant design. With the standard 20-way Comfort Seats on 750 models, the 7 Series becomes even more elegant outside and inside, and discreetly more luxurious as well. The luxury experience begins with stepless door checks – once opened, the door will stay open at any position, not just two or three. The driver is surrounded by innovative ergonomics, lavish materials and finishes, and all-encompassing refinement right down to the smallest details. Occupants enjoy generous space – all the more so for rear passengers in the long-wheelbase models.
Comprehensive safety design and features. From BMW’s Inflatable Tubular Structure front-to-rear Head Protection System through standard front/optional rear side-impact airbags to Active Head Restraints and Active Knee Protection (inflatable-airbag knee protection under the instrument panel), every 7 Series model is comprehensively engineered and equipped for a reassuring level of occupant safety.

These were all featured in autospectator.com. You may check out the site for more details.

The 2008 European Car of the Year Finalists

2007-10-10T22:23:00.000-07:00

The year is about to end. And so, various car of the year listings will be released soon. In fact, the 2008 European Car of the Year is being decided. 32 contenders have been studied, and is now broken down into just seven. Among the eliminated models surprisingly were the new Audi A5 / S5, the BMW X5, smart fortwo, Honda CR-V, Land Rover Freelander II (LR2), the new Toyota Corolla / Auris, and the magnificent, technology-packed Lexus LS 460 / 600h L. It is absolutely surprising that the LS 460 was excluded in the final seven, since it was able to win the title of this year’s International Car of the Year, an award ceremony unrelated to the European Car of the Year.

As with the final seven, selected vehicles will be under analysis. Among vehicles included are the Fiat 500, Ford Mondeo, Mazda2, Mercedes Benz C-Class, Peugeot 308, Nissan Qashqai, and the Kia cee'd.

The Mercedes Benz C-Class and the Nissan Qashqai (twin of the Nissan Roque compact crossover) are the only vehicles that are found in the shortlist of which are either sold or will be sold in North America. That is though Kia might bring a version of the cee’d, while Mazda has been contemplating the sale of the two models on our side of the Altlantic for quite some time. In addition, Fiat is expected to reenter the market sometime soon, with its 500. According to an article in car-reviews.automobile.com, “With much praise being directed at tiny Italian by the media as well as the new Ford Mondeo (cited by one magazine as the finest car Ford has ever made), it seems that these two vehicles are likely to duke it out for first place.”

Last year, the award winner was the Ford S-Max, a sporty seven-seat vehicle that outwitted the Volvo S80 and Land Rover LR2. Among other previous winners were Toyota Prius for its innovative hybrid powertrain, the Fiat Panda and Ranault Clio superminis for their use of interior space, advanced powertrains and clever designs.

Far different from other car of the year competitions, the European car of the year has only one category, grouping together all vehicles regardless of type. There will be no subdivisions of categories on the North American Car and Truck of the Year.

By November 17, the winner of the European car of the year award will finally be announced. So, you only have a little bit more than a month to wait and wish for your bet to take the spot.

Among other awards that will follow are the World Green Car of the Year by November, North American Car and Truck of the Year by January and World Car of the Year by April.

The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2

2007-10-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Volkswagen Touareg has gained several improvements, mostly defining refinement. The Touareg 2 now has redesigned headlights, grille, and bumpers, new, larger side mirrors, updated taillights and exhaust tips. It has bigger wheels measuring 19 inches for the V 8 and diesel V 10 models. On the inside, found are new instrument panel, 12 way power driver’s seat, new stereo interface (with standard Sirius Satellite Radio), and options like keyless access and four-zone climate control.

The 2008 Touareg 2 also received mechanical upgrades. It gets direct injection (FSI) to efficiently improve fuel economy while optimizing the power. It is now powered with a 280 horse, 3.6 L engine that replaces the 240 hp, 3.2 L V 6 of the 2007 model. The FSI 4.2 L V 8, which became available later in the prior model year, offers 350 hp and 324 pound-feet of torque. The torque-monster V 10 twin-turbo diesel, which was not available in the 2006 and 2007 models, is back with 553 pound-feet of torque with however, only 43-state legal for 2008 model. By the middle of the 2009 model year, it is expected that the V 10 TDI will be replaced by a 50 state-legal 3.0 L turbodiesel that uses urea injection, a system VW claims will be as easy to refill as the windshield washer fluid.

There also features that has been retained from the previous year model, which includes the four-wheel independent front and rear suspension systems, the four-wheel discs, Volkswagen’s 4XMotion four-wheel-drive system, Hill Roll Back Assist, and Hill Descent Assist. The Touareg 2 still offers an optional air suspension. And, like before, the four-wheel drive and ride height are controlled through knobs near the transmission shift lever on the center console.

The 2008 Touareg version comes with Volkswagen’s Electronic Stabilization Program comprised with several new features, including active rollover protection, dry-braking (which removes the water film from brake pads for shorter stops on wet surfaces), and ABS-Plus for better braking on loose surfaces like gravel or sand. The ABS-Plus temporarily locks the wheels, pushing some of the grabel/sand underneath to form a wedge, which shortens braking distance on uneven terrain by as much as 20 percent. The vehicle is also featured with tire-pressure-monitoring system that can inform the driver more quickly of a low or flat tire.

To make it a little more precise and clear, here is a table provided in trucktrend.com that could help you out picture the performance of the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 on a road test:

General

Location of final assembly - Bratislava, Slovakia
Body style - 4-door SUV
EPA size class - Special purpose
Drivetrain layout - Front engine, 4WD
Airbags - Front, front side, side curtain

Powertrain

Engine type - 11° V-6, iron block/alum heads
Bore x stroke, in - 3.50 x 3.80
Displacement, ci/L - 220/3.6
Compression ratio - 11.3:1
Valve gear - DOHC, 4 valves/cyl, VVT
Fuel induction - Sequential multipoint fuel injection, FSI
SAE horsepower, hp @ rpm - 280 @ 6200
SAE torque, lb-ft @ rpm - 265 @ 2500
Opt engine - 90° V-8, iron block/alum heads
Bore x stroke, in - 3.33 x 3.66
Displacement, ci/L - 255/4.2
Compression ratio - 11.0:1
Valve gear - DOHC, 5 valves/cyl
Fuel induction - Sequential multipoint fuel injection, FSI
SAE horsepower, hp @ rpm - 350 @ 6200
SAE torque, lb-ft @ rpm - 324 @ 3000
Opt engine - 90° twin TD V-10, iron block/alum heads
Bore x stroke, in - 3.19 x 3.76
Displacement, ci/L - 300/5.0
Compression ratio - 18.0:1
Valve gear - SOHC, 2 valves/cyl
Fuel induction - Direct injection
SAE horsepower, hp @ rpm - 310 @ 3750
SAE torque, lb-ft @ rpm - 553 @ 2000
Transmission - 6-speed automatic
1st - 4.15:1
2nd - 2.37:1
3rd - 1.56:1
4th - 1.16:1
5th - 0.86:1
6th - 0.69:1
Reverse - 3.39:1
Axle ratio - 4.56:1
Final drive ratio - 3.15:1
Low-range ratio - 2.66:1
Crawl ratio (1st x axle gears x low range) - 50.3:1
Recommended fuel - Premium unleaded/ULSD

Dimensions/Capacities

Wheelbase, in - 112.4
Length, in - 187.2
Width, in - 75.9
Height, in - 68.0
Track, f/r, in - 65.2/65.7
Headroom, f/r, in - 38.7/38.3
Legroom, f/r, in - 41.3/35.6
Shoulder room, f/r, in - 57.7/57.4
Cargo volume, behind 1st/2nd row, cu ft - 71.0/31.0
Ground clearance, in - 6.3-11.8 (air)
Approach/departure angle, deg - 28.0/33.0 (air)
Base curb weight/as tested, lb - 5086/5164 (V-6)
Weight distribution, f/r, % - 52/48
Max payload capacity, lb - 1400
GVWR, lb - 6500
GCWR, lb - 14,000
Max towing capacity, lb - 7716
Fuel capacity, gal - 26.4

Chassis

Construction - Unibody
Suspension, front/rear - Independent, double wishbone, coilover/independent, four-link; four-corner air suspension (opt)
Steering type - Servotronic power steering
Ratio - 14.7:0
Turning circle, ft - 38.1
Brakes, front/rear - 13-in vented disc/13-in vented disc, ABS
Wheels - 19-in alloy
Tires - P275/45R19

Performance

0-60 mph, sec - 7.9 (V-6)
Quarter mile, sec @ mph - 16.0 @ 84.7
Braking, 60-0, ft - 128
EPA fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg - 12-15/17-20
CO2 emissions, lb/mile - 1.22 (V-6); 1.40 (V-8); 1.31 (V-10)

Price

Base price - $48,320 (V-8)
Options - $10,700
Price as tested - $59,020 (V-8)

Not bad at all, isn't it?

Cars.com Top Ten City Cars

2007-10-07T22:12:00.001-07:00

Living in a city makes the search for an ideal vehicle a bit crucial, as you have to consider several additional factors, of which comprise those that provide convenience and practicality.

According to Patrick Olsen, Cars.com managing editor, “There is a reason why insurance premiums are higher for city dwellers.” “Parking on city streets, driving on less-than-perfect roads and navigating through traffic can be a risky proposition. However, with the right car, city driving can be a little more enjoyable,” he continued.

And so, Cars.com auto experts compiled a list of the best urban cars, after considering the size, performance, ride quality and cabin comfort. They have looked over highly useful features such as parking sensors and backup cameras. They have also analyzed turning circles and stop-and-go gas mileage.

Since Cars.com is a well reliable site and most comprehensive destination for new and used car buyers and sellers, I have always looked forward on checking out their top ten lists of cars. It will be great if you would also be aware of the list so I opt to share the latest with you.

Here is the complete list of urban cars featured in Cars.com:

1. 2007 Mini Cooper
It didn't take long for us to decide on the ultimate urban car: At just over 12 feet long, the Mini Cooper was the shortest car in contention. Add in a reasonably tight turning circle, and the Cooper can take parking spaces everyone else passes up. For good measure, Mini also offers parking sensors for the rear bumper. The Cooper is our ultimate car for what it gives as well as for what it doesn't give up. Despite its size, the cabin can seat four adults and is outfitted with six airbags, and the hatch design and folding backseat provide a surprisingly roomy cargo space. Front-wheel drive and traction control mean winter driving in this stylish car is no problem. The pricier S model gives excellent power and braking on city streets, and you can even get a convertible version.

Length: 145.6 inches
Turning circle: 35.1 feet
Seats: 4
City MPG*: 26 - 27 (premium gas)

2. 2008 BMW 328i wagon
The latest generation of BMW's venerable 3 Series is arguably its best yet. Once radical in the styling department, its sharp edges have become the norm in today's modern urban design. A much faster twin-turbo engine is available in the 335i, but the wagon - which packs 35 percent more cargo room than the sedan without incurring any extra length - comes only in 328i guise. Plus, it has all those BMW attributes at a price that's easier to digest. The steering may be a bit heavy for some, but that's the tradeoff for owning an "ultimate driving machine" in the city.

Length: 178.2 inches
Turning circle: 36.0 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 17 - 18 (premium gas)

3. 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
City dwellers know what a nightmare traffic can be. Ford's Escape Hybrid brings a little relief to city air quality thanks to its low CO2 emissions - and it offers a break for your wallet, too. According to the EPA, the Escape Hybrid is the most efficient SUV on the market. Besides the fact that the gas engine automatically turns off when stopped - so you don't have to waste precious fuel in rush hour - the hybrid can also cruise in near-silence on electric power at slow speeds. Now there's a surefire way to impress your friends.

Length: 174.7 inches
Turning circle: 36.7 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 29 – 34

4. 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid
Even though Honda's futuristically styled Civic Hybrid looks much like the mainstream Civic, it has lower emissions and uses a lot less fuel. A small turning circle means enhanced maneuverability in tight spots, and the optional navigation system has more than 7 million points of interest, so you'll be sure to find that new tapas joint or blues lounge you're looking for. Stellar crash-test scores for front, side and rear impacts are also reassuring and set the Civic apart from most of its competitors. An impeccably finished cabin adds to the car's appeal.

Length: 176.7 inches
Turning circle: 34.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG*: 40

5. 2008 Honda CR-V
Loft-dwelling bohemian types might be the only ones to appreciate the CR-V's quirky styling at first, but other downtown denizens should warm up to it over time. What the SUV lacks in turning radius and seating flexibility - folding the second row is a real drag - it makes up for in features, with sturdy plastic bumpers and a cargo-area storage shelf on which you can stack 20 pounds of groceries. Gas mileage is respectable for an SUV, and the ride is comfortable enough for bumpy streets. The large rear window makes for good visibility, and an optional backup camera means you can ace that back-alley parking.

Length: 178.0 inches
Turning circle: 37.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 19 – 20

6. 2008 Honda Fit
Pay a slight premium for the Honda nameplate, and you get a friendly-looking hatchback that's a cut above most economy cars. The Fit has just enough zip for stop-and-go duties, and gas mileage is predictably thrifty given that the car weighs just three-fourths of a Toyota Camry. It's small enough to squeeze between garbage trucks and buses, and its tall windows and large mirrors take the guesswork out of tight maneuvers. The front and rear seats can fold flat for a makeshift bed - not the most comfortable place to sleep, but it will do in a pinch if you need a lunch-hour snooze.

Length: 157.4 inches
Turning circle: 34.3 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 27 – 28

7. 2008 Land Rover LR2
If you want an SUV to use in the city, you'll be best off with a small one. Most premium and luxury SUVs are larger, but there are a few that qualify as compact. The best choice for tackling city life is the handsome Land Rover LR2. For ease in maneuvering and parking, it's shorter from bumper to bumper than the Acura RDX and BMW X3, and it has a tighter turning circle. Even so, its headroom and front-seat legroom are better than either competitor. Standard parking sensors on the rear bumper and optional approach and puddle lights are also great to have.

Length: 177.1 inches
Turning circle: 37.1 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 16 (premium gas)

8. 2008 Mazda5
There aren't many minivans that scream "city-friendly," but the Mazda5 takes the family-hauler concept and shrinks it to a manageable size that still has room for six. The 2008 model sports a fresh look but retains its distinct Japanese edginess. Even though it's 20 inches shorter than a Honda Odyssey, the Mazda5 is still substantial, coming in at almost exactly the same length as a Toyota RAV4. Steering is sharp for tight parking maneuvers, and the ride is relatively smooth. Just be prepared for your friends to call you for help when they move.

Length: 181.5 inches
Turning circle: 34.8 feet
Seats: 6
City MPG: 19

9. 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata isn't the shortest car on our list, but it has the smallest turning circle - 4 feet tighter than the Mini's. This makes it most adept at hanging U-turns, and its nose swings sharply into parallel parking spaces, which are easy to navigate when the top is down. It slips through congestion where most cars are gridlocked - and you look so good, who could hold it against you? Alas, when the weather turns bad, so does the Miata's viability as a city car: Top-up visibility and rear-wheel drive aren't great, and potholes start to look (and feel) mighty big.

Length: 157.3 inches
Turning circle: 30.8 feet
Seats: 2
City MPG: 20 - 22 (premium gas)

10. 2008 Scion xB
If you're looking for an affordable car that sets you apart from the crowd, Scion's xB is an easy way to go. The xB delivers on the promise of its boxy shape by offering loads of cargo room in a compact package - up to 69.9 cubic feet, to be exact - which makes it ideal for carting your belongings around. Engaging steering response and the tight turning radius are a boon for narrow streets, too.

Length: 167.3 inches
Turning circle: 34.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 22

That’s from the experts; so if you seek for the best, make sure it is one of those!

Mazda Design Challenge: 2018 Mazda3

2007-10-04T02:06:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dreamed of driving your own designed car? Well, I did when I was 18 years old, and that was just a dream. But, just recently, a release has given me back the hope, as I found it in worldcarfans.com. And, it is Mazda who opt to give the opportunity to artistic minds seeking to design something that would be a legend.

Facebook.com has announced the launching of the “Mazda Design Challenge”. The contest is looking for a designer to create the 2018 Mazda3. The winner will be able to work with North America Mazda Design director Franz von Holzhausen and his team for the ten day 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show.

That would be interesting, right? So, I guess now you want to know how to join. Well, you just have to submit your own ideas at Facebook.com. Contestants are required to submit a 150-word description of their 2018 Mazda3 design. A sketch could also be included, and that would be much preferable of course. The design team will judge the entries and break it down into ten. Then, the Facebook community will select five finalists and each will be working with a Mazda designer to sharpen their concept. The five will be presented at Facebook.com, where users will be able to vote for their pick.

The winner will fly to Los Angeles, where he would be attending to the Auto Show. At the end, the winner’s idea is turned into a full-scale model.

Holzhausen said, “Usually the design ideas come from inside our studio, but this is a rare opportunity for my team to look at design through our potential customers’ eyes.” “Never before has any other automaker built a concept car on the show stand, in full view of show attendees. The pressure’s really going to be on all of us – especially the contest winner – to get it finished in time for the closing weekend of the show,” he added.

Necessities shall be provided, including travel, accommodation, $1,000 cash and even a new Mazda3 to be used during the stay.

The contest has started last September 25 and will end on November 7 before midnight. So, hurry… gather your ideas and visit Facebook.com for submission!

The Lexus IS250 in Malaysia

2007-09-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

Lexus Malaysia, the luxury division of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, will be launching a new model, the Lexus IS250. Lexus is expecting this model to create a name in the market, more of something that will boost its sales by next year.

The Lexus IS250 is the fourth and smallest of the Lexus range. And, it is powered with a 2.5 L V6 engine that produces a top speed of 205 bhp. Since there is a trend of small cars these days worldwide, UMW Toyota managing director Datuk David Chen foresees that this new model would probably account for 30% of the 300 units they will be selling for 2008.

Currently, there are 7,000 luxury car units being sold in the local luxury market annually. Chen said, “I think the market is ready to share with another new brand.”

According to Chen, the Lexus IS250 is potentially competitive in the compact sedan segment of the luxury car market, joining its top rivals: BMW 325i and Mercedes C-class. Considering it in the line, the segment seemingly represents about one third of the total luxury market, Chen said.

Lexus Malaysia will get to have a complete range composed of the Lexus IS250 in the compact sedan division; the Lexus LS460L in the limousine segment; the Lexus GS300 in the mid-sized sedan group; and the Lexus RX300 in the sports utility vehicle segment.

Lexus just set has set a sales target for the new model in 2008, considering that its operations were actually limited to the Lexus Center (a RM35mil 3S center opened in Mutiara Damansara last January) as it is their only outlet. In a span of nine months, more than 150 unites were sold. For that, the company is expecting to have about 200 units for the entire year.

Chen said, “The Lesux GS300 and the Lexus LS460L (the two top-selling models) sold in almost equal quantity. I’m pleasantly surprised at the strength of both models.”

Launching of 2008 Altima, Qashqai, Xterra and Navara in UAE

2007-09-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

Recently, Arabian Automobiles has launched the 2008 models of Nissan Altima, Qashqai, Xterra and Navara in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Arabian Automobiles is an exclusive dealer of Nissan in Dubai and Northern Emirates who now brings the latest models with high performance, excitement and technical innovation for their market. Several guests were invited to the Al Sahra resort to get a nice view of a majestic light and laser show.

Michel I. Ayat, CEO of Arabian Automobiles, said, “Continuing our tradition of offering world-class automobiles with excellent customer service, we are proud to launch the 2008 models of Nissan Altima, Qashqai, Xterra and Navara. We decided to launch these models during the holy month of Ramadan, in celebration of our heritage. With advanced features and attractive designs, we’re sure customers will find these models exciting and appealing.” “We wish everyone Ramadan Kareem from Arabian Automobiles,” he continued.

A play has been presented, the ‘Jumana – Secret of the Desert’, wherein Omar Sharif’s voice is held the storyteller. It includes fusion of different light, water, laser and pyrotechnic effects, associated with vibrant soundtrack. After the presentation, the SUV and Sedan line-ups of Nissan’s 2008 new editions’ launch followed.

These are the three new models included in the Nissan’s 2008 SUV line-up:

Nissan Xterra – Equipped with 4.0 L engine, this model lead in enhancing Nissan’s presence in the growing SUV segment.
Nissan Qashqai – This model gained a safety rating of 5 star Euro NCAP.
Nissan Navara – This model combined the best of Nissan SUV heritage and the utility of a commercial pick up.

On the Sedan line-up, Arabian Automobiles holds the new Nissan Altima 2008 sedan. The model has significant built-in quality, enhanced comfort, sporty performance and high technology features.

Ayat said, “We are pleased to offer our customers a wide range of 2008 model vehicles to choose from, all coming from the trusted name Nissan, supported by our customer-oriented sales and after-sales professionals.”

Arabian Automobiles is well dedicated in continuing its leadership, providing customer satisfaction in all aspects involved in the business. To put this goal into realization, they have set plans of infrastructure and network expansion, of which includes a warehouse in Jebel Ali free zone. They have also established several showrooms and workshops. For possessing such impressive commitment, the company wouldn’t be considered among the fancy ones, since it operates through Oracle systems. They even invest in hiring and training specialists, of which will provide excellent service to their customers.

All of their characteristics being considered, the company most likely could manage to prevail for decades, as it continuously focus on the customers’ needs.

Top 10 Vehicles We Can’t Get in the U.S.

2007-09-25T02:19:00.000-07:00

It’s not quite surprising that there are several cool cars not found in America. That is since the makers might have created them for a certain market of which U.S. has been excluded. But, of course, we love them to be here. And, we continuously ask “Why can’t they be here?”

Well, let us just lay those cars lined up. I have gathered a list of the top 10 cars that we can’t get in the U.S., featured in motortrend.com:

Audi RS 6 Avant – This model comes with 580 hp twin turbo V10, Quattro all-wheel drive and Dynamic Ride Control (which reduces pitching and rolling movement). The optional ceramic brakes (front 16.5 inch discs and rear 14.0 inch discs) with 20 inch alloy wheels provide stealthy looks and stellar performance. It features 10 LED daytime running lights in each headlamp cluster. It also has 59 cubic feet of cargo space. And, it has top speed of 155 mph on highway.
Artega GT – Backed by auto supplier Paragon, this beautifully sculpted two-seat sports car has been designed by Henrik Fisker, the former Aston designer and the man behind Fisker Coachbuild. This machine is powered with rear-mounted 3.6 L, 300 hp VR6 mated to VW’s DSG duel-clutch transmission. It has a curb weight of approximately 2400 lbs for being aluminum and carbon fiber made.
BMW M5 Wagon – This model has been equipped with 507 hp V10 and SMG tranny, which makes its performance equal to the sedan’s capabilities. It also has 19 inch wheels and four exhaust pipes.
Ford Kuga – This has been made available with 2.0 L Duratorq TDCi diesel engine and six-speed dueal-clutch transmission.
Honda Civic Type R – This comes with the same high-revving 197 hp, 2.0 liter four in the Si. But, it has more futuristic interior, racier bucket seats and available 19 inch alloy wheels.
Peugeot 207 RC and Clio Renaultsport 197 – The Peugeot 207 RC gets funky Euro styling and equipped with 1.6 L direct-injected turbo four. The Clio Renaultsport 197, on the other hand, got 197 hp four, front Brembo brake calipers, 17-inch anthracite wheels, stiffer suspension, Recaro seats, and Renault F1 team decals.
Mercedes Benz GL420 CDI – This is stuffed with V8 engine producing 516 lb-ft of torque at 2200 rpm and 206 hp at 3600 rpm. The model, with such powerful engine, could run 60 in 7.6 seconds with a top speed of 143 mph.
Fiat 500 – After 30 years of absence, it has now returned to the European market. However, it is still uncertain that this will cross the Atlantic for U.S.
Mazda2 – This model is provided with 1.3 L Miller-cycle engine, CVT, and roomy interior and sporty dynamics.
Suzuki Swift – This machine has been equipped with 1.6 L, 125 hp engine, four-wheel disc brakes, 17-inch wheels, and a 2400 pound curb weight.

They are all great. So, in case, when would they come? Let’s just hope it will be soon.

NASCAR Update: Top 10 Power Rankings

2007-09-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

For those who missed the 27th week in NASCAR here is an update for you:

Jeff Gordon — Just like the other 41 cars in the field, Gordon spent his day following Clint Bowyer's No. 07 car in a four-hour game of follow the leader. After passing Tony Stewart on lap 224, Gordon made no headway in chasing down Bowyer, who wans handily by over six seconds.
Jimmie Johnson — Johnson finished sixth in New Hampshire, and in doing so, lost the 20-point lead over second he had worked all year to accumulate. Johnson still is in first, tied with teammate Jeff Gordon, who finished second.
Tony Stewart — Stewart finished third behind Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon to maintain third in the points. Stewart cut his deficit to the points leader from 30 to 10.
Kyle Busch — Busch finished fourth in New Hampshire to climb three places in the standings to fifth, where he is 35 points out of the lead.
Clint Bowyer — Bowyer completely dominated the field in New Hampshire, leading 222 of 300 laps in route to a massive six-second victory over second-place Jeff Gordon. The win moved him from last in the 12-man field to fourth, where he trails Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson by 15 points.
Martin Truex, Jr. — Truex scored his sixth top-five of the year by coming home fifth in New Hampshire. That moved him up one spot in the points to sixth, where he trails the leaders by 40 points.
Carl Edwards — Edwards wrecked his primary car in Friday practice, forcing him to qualify in the backup. After a solid 11th qualifying position, a rainout of Saturday's final practice left Edwards unable to shake down the backup. Still, he finished a respectable 12th, but seven of the twelve Chasers finished better.
Matt Kenseth — Kenseth, showing the consistency that has made him no threat to win the Cup, had another poor qualifying effort that started him 30th. He still battled his way to a seventh, his 17th top 10 of the year.
Kevin Harvick — Harvick suffered two flat tires on the Loudon surface last Sunday, one of which caused him to fall from sixth th 36th, a lap down to the leaders. Harvick also avoided disaster when he just missed the spinning car of Reid Sorenson.
Kurt Busch — Busch's Dodge lost a cylinder about 120 laps into the Sylvania 300, handicapping his efforts for a solid start to the Chase. Busch finished the race one lap down in 25th, the worst finish among Chase qualifiers. He is now last in the 12-man Chase, 102 points out of first.

This has been quoted from sports-central.org, which featured it with cool fictional quotes to put a little spice in it.

Saab’s 30th Year in Turbocharging

2007-09-19T17:50:00.000-07:00

1977 to 2007. 30 years have passed. And, these 30 years is how long Saab has been turbocharging. Saab is reportedly commemorating the event with the unveiling of their ultimate performance car and giving the new-look 9-3 range its public debut.

According to media reports, “turbocharging is key to Saab’s ‘rightsizing’ engine philosophy, getting ‘more for less’ in terms of both power and environmental performance”. This has been justified by Saab BioPower’s number one position in the emerging ‘flex-fuel’ segment in Europe.

World Premiere of the Saab Turbo S has been set. The Turbo S is actually a driver-focused, all-wheel-drive car, and loaded with all of the following features:

Black Limited Edition evokes iconic appeal of Saab’s first black 900 Turbo
Innovative Saab XWD for greater driver involvement and dynamic chassis control
Active torque split between both axles and rear wheels
Tuned suspension and electronic chassis settings for optimum handling
280 hp/206 kW 2.8V6 turbo engine, 400 Nm of torque. 0-100 kph in 5.7 secs
Distinctive styling additions for enhanced aerodynamics

Public debut of the new Saab 9-3 Range is also set, with the 9-3 range provided with more assertive look adopted from Saab’s Scandinavian design tradition, as weel as the award-winning Aero X concept car. Here's what to expect from the new Saab 9-3 range:

All-new bodywork forward of the A-pillars
Cleaner looks, new doors, light and bumper assemblies front and rear
Two-stage, 180 hp/132 kW 1.9 turbo diesel for class-leading power and efficiency
Addition of more powerful, 200 hp/147kW Saab BioPower (E85) engine

Tesla Roadster coming this fall

2007-09-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

While most carmakers are busy with their small cars and hybrids to counter the rapidly increasing gas prices… Tesla Motors, on the other hand, is just about ready to roll out its Tesla Roadster.

Tesla Motors has also reportedly invented and improved a free energy device. It brought Nicola Tesla, their nearly mythical scientific figure, scientist and inventor, recognized achievements in the past years. According to Tesla's website, “Among his life’s many inventions (and more than 700 patents) are the induction motor and alternating-current power transmission. Without Tesla’s vision and brilliance, our car wouldn’t be possible.”

Enter the famed Roadster. It is an electric supercar that runs 0 to 60 mph in only 4 seconds. Top speed is held at 130 mph. It would not be provided with free energy, but Tesla Motors claimed that the 135 mpg is equivalent with a cost of approximately 2 cents a mile. 200 miles will be the maximum travel before it requires charging.

What I, and probably most of you, would love about the Roadster is that it is an emission free vehicle. And, it can be charged overnight for about 3.5 hours. However, charging is quite a big responsibility for some, as situations might occur that could hold us back from charging. The company anticipated this issue so they held a home solar system as an option. But it would cost, aside from the $100,000 pricing of the car alone.

But I doubt if that would stop all of us from salivating over this gorgeous electric supercar, and wanting it for ourselves. Tesla Motors will make the Roadster available in the market this fall.

Keep the Anti Freeze for Mr. Freeze

2007-09-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

Spending the night having a nice talk with a friend, near a warm fireplace, sipping wine, talking about the good old days...it's all great. Then it's time to go home, you go to your car, and then you realize that the car is in “cryostasis” cast by Mr. Freeze. Everything’s frozen, the motor isn't working, and it is simply frozen solid. And you are left wondering what you could have done to prevent such situation.

Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, said, “Inspecting and maintaining your vehicle’s cooling system takes just a few minutes of your time, but it is well worth it when you consider what could happen… Cooling system failure is the leading cause of engine-related breakdowns, which can cost thousands of dollars and leave you and your family stranded at the worst possible time.” Not exactly the perfect way to end a nice, enjoyable evening right?

But fret not. Unfortunate endings like this can be prevented. Here are some tips from the Car Care Council, which I found at news.carjunky.com:

Check coolant levels accurately. Basic service tools and an antifreeze ball tester would greatly help. You can find them at your local auto parts store.
Let the engine cool down. Note: opening a hot radiator, coolant reservoir or overflow tank can probably cause severe burns.
Make sure the mix ratio is right. If the antifreeze or coolant is low, add a 50/50 mix of approved antifreeze and distilled water. If you have changed your antifreeze recently, but levels are low, make use of the antifreeze ball tester to assure that the coolant-to-water ratio is correct.
Inspect the hoses. Changing coolant is a good time to check for and replace any leaking, brittle, spongy or cracked hoses. Be extra cautious and make sure the radiator hose clamps are tight to prevent leaks at the connections.

Now these things wouldn't take up so much of your time. Compared to ending a night in mishap, why not make sure your night, special as it is, end a happy ending?

Use the 45 and Kill the Gas Bills

2007-09-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Wonder how it feels, to kill... When something is annoying, kill it. When it's bothering you, kill it. We are talking about gasoline bills here my friend, and we do want to kill ‘em all. License to kill; yeah you got that right, kill those nasty Gas Bills in no time with this killer 45 from howtoadvice.com:

Don't drag your car for nothing only if it’s something.
An assassin must be on the prowl, at times walk or bike.
Use the crowd for disguise, call friends and share the fun, ride and also the bill.
Know thy route and know it's nature, short cuts are a must and log jams are to be avoided.
Be efficient list thy deeds and drive though it only once.
“Wise men say, only fools rush in” that's why avoid rush-hours.
Information gathering is a must, make a call or read before bargain-hunting.
Let them deliver the package, let them come to you.
Supplies are necessary; buy for a week's worth or two.
Let the kids run some of the errands. Let them walk to school, too.
Public transportation may be cheaper, especially when traveling alone.
Pack as little in your car as necessary so it has less weight to carry.
Shop around for service stations with the lowest gasoline prices.
Check to see if there are "self service" gas stations in your area.
Don't speed. Cars get about 21% more mileage at 55 mph then at 70 mph.
Better planning reduces the need for speeding, to get there in time.
When starting your car, don't idle it for more than 30 seconds, even in cold weather. Today's cars are designed to be driven almost immediately.
If you must stop for more than 30 seconds, don't idle your car. The engine is more fuel efficient if your turn it off and restart it.
Drive evenly with a steady foot. Avoid jiggling the accelerator.
Keep tires properly inflated at all times. (Check pressure when cold).
Use air conditioning only when necessary. Try opening the window.
Avoid "jackrabbit" starts. When starting, press accelerator slowly.
Avoid panic stops. When possible, coast to stops such as traffic lights.
Remove items that cause wind resistance, such as luggage racks.
Don't forget to release the emergency brake before pulling away.
Never rev engine before killing it. This wastes gas, wears out cylinders.
Keep tuned to radio traffic reports and avoid traffic jams, other delays.
Make certain your gas cap fits properly.
Use the lowest octane gas that won't make your engine knock.
Use only your right foot for accelerating and braking. That way you can't accidentally ride the brake and use excessive gas.
Shift into high gear as soon as possible. If you have automatic transmission, lift your foot from the accelerator about one second early.
Pass other cars as soon as you see you are overtaking them. Don't wait.
Keep your car properly tuned for top fuel efficiency.
Keep brakes properly adjusted. Dragging brakes increases resistance.
Operate as small a car as possible for your driving needs. (Small cars weighing half as much as large cars use about half as much gasoline!)
Avoid cars with gas-consuming options such as air conditioning; power equipment such as window, door locks, etc.; automatic transmission, etc.
In hot climates, drive a car with light colored exterior and interior, to reflect light, heat. Tinted glass also prevents heat buildup.
Use radial tires for less friction between tire and road.
When driving, keep your eyes moving and your feet still!
Keep your steering wheel still too. The more you weave back and forth, the farther your car has to travel and the more gas is consumed.
Don't overfill your gas tank. It could leak or spill in heat or on a hill.
Use snow tires and/or chains as little as necessary because they make your car work harder and use more gasoline.
When you see a hill ahead, build up speed before you reach it, and then maintain your speed on the slope. (If you must accelerate on the hill, you will use much more fuel). Then coast down the other side.
Keep wheels aligned for better mileage - Longer tire life, too.
Record all gas purchases for tax deduction purposes.

What is Your Dream Car?

2007-09-12T00:45:00.000-07:00

We all have our dream cars. And we mean dream cars, for more often than not these cars remain in our dreams -- unbearably expensive and fast. Here's one car that truly is the stuff dreams are made of:

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4. This supercar has the ability to run 0 to 60 in less than 2.5 seconds. It can even reach 253 miles per hour as its top speed, making it one of the fastest cars on the planet. For now, it is by fact the world’s most expensive production vehicle. And because it is, everyone desires to possess one. However, besides its worth of about $1.4 million to $1.7 million, buyers would have to wait for quite a longer time for those models to be available.

Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute (a market research firm) said that the people who can afford the most exclusive cars see them as status symbols. According to forbesautos.com, such cars rank them with oil sheiks, tech moguls and captains of industry, or, if nothing else, allow them to be regarded as movers and shakers in their own city.

Pedraza said, “These cars exert influence… they say who you are in the hierarchy and can be a power base for business deals… And how long you’ve been on the waiting list for a particular vehicle says how long you’ve been a power broker.”

I agree that the more exclusive a vehicle is, “the more likely it is to be coveted by those who can afford it”. Economics say that lack of supply creates demand. This situation triggers the rise in pricing of the specific product involved. And, this is what automakers see as the long-term value for their brand. Limited supply equals exclusivity equals demand. This is the concept that holds Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce successful. The same has been applied to Aston Martin.

Bob Cann sold exotic sports cars and prestige luxury cars for 30 years through his MotorCars International and Lamborghini Houston dealerships. He said, “Lamborghini and Ferrari have found that if they build cars in a limited number, it really drives the market… and price almost becomes secondary to other factors like ‘How soon can I get it?’ or ‘How many are there?’.”

Questions of course, that most of us know all too well, but, may always have to ask repeatedly without ever being able to drive the dream car itself.

Ford Kuga Goes Out to 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show

2007-09-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

The Ford Motor Company does not have plans of selling this gorgeous new compact car in the North American auto market yet. But the new Kuga crossover is sure to make its way to the other side of the Atlantic.

Ford based the Kuga from its ongoing Ford Focus and it is going to be seen dashing the show floor during the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Ford also revealed that the new crossover vehicle can be purchased in early 2008.

The new car will be made in Germany under the stylish and artistic direction of Martin Smith who is a Opel design czar and now the present head of the Ford studios in Europe.

The Kuga was first seen at the 2005 Frankfurt show wearing the iosis X concept which was actually the inspiration of the soon-to-be production car. The new car is a living proof that it is possible to combine both features of a wagon and an SUV to create a high performing sporty flair of a coupe package.

The new Kuga is given the front- and four-wheel-drive variants but the show car will be handling a 136-horsepower 2.0-liter Duratorq common-rail turbo diesel engine as released by the Inside Line this morning. It is given more performance drive through its six-speed manual transmission.

These are the following car parts on the vehicle that you should expect to see when the Kuga is set out on display at the show car at the Frankfurt Auto Show:

Panoramic glass roof
Split tailgate that incorporates a rear backup camera
High-mounted taillamps
Sculpted rear bumper with integral diffuser
Ebony leather orange piping cabin
Accented in piano white trim

Other equipment and standard car parts are all found on Ford’s official website.

Charging Your Car Battery

2007-09-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

You don’t need to be an expert to do it; you only need to follow these special tips on charging your car's battery.

You know how it feels when suddenly your car battery dies in the most inconvenient time right? Usually, the car battery is fully charged by your alternator, however, if your alternator is not running, it is not possible for you to charge your car battery. So what are you going to do?

Here are some tips from ehow.com to help you:

All you need are jumper cables. Then start right away with these following procedures:

1. Ask a favor from someone to lend their fully charged car battery long side with your car.
2. Now, attach all the jumper cable wires on to its proper places, from the battery of his car to your battery.
3. Then ask someone to start your car and let it run, with these cables attached to your battery for % minutes.
4. Attempt to try getting your car started. If the car does not start, you may need to wait for another one long minute before doing another try. Start the car again and see if it works. Something might be wrong with your car battery if it does not start right away.
5. Finally disconnect the cable wires attached from his battery to your car battery. Remove the red cord first before the others.

Remember to consult a mechanic if you do not have any knowledge about charging your car battery. Leaky battery must also be replaced immediately because it may cause your car to explode. Remember to take extra precaution when dealing with car batteries.

The Car Tuning and Modified Cars’ Top Ten Most Expensive Cars

2007-09-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

Car Tuning and Modified Cars has released the Top Ten Most Expensive Cars in the US car market. The online website is a reliable source for information about cars. I found this list on their official website:

No.1 is Bugatti Veyron
Price: $ 1,700,000

No.2 is Ferrari Enzo
Price: $ 1,000,000

No.3 is Pagani Zonda C12 F
Price: $ 741,000

No.4 is Koenigsegg CCX
Price: $ 600,910

No.5 is Porsche Carrera GT
Price: $ 484,000

No.6 is Mercedes SLR McLaren
Price: $ 455,500

No.7 is Maybach 62
Price: $ 385,250

No.8 is Rolls-Royce Phantom
Price: $ 320,000

No.9 is Lamborghini Murcielago
Price: $ 279,900

No.10 is Aston Martin Vanquish
Price: $ 255,000

Among the ten most expensive cars, the Bugatti Veyron ranks the number one with $ 1,700,000 price tag. This is the most expensive car among the bunch. The second spot goes to another European car Ferrari Enzo with $ 1,000,000 price tag. Following are Pagani Zonda C12 F and Koenigsegg CCX with741,000 and $ 600,910 landing on the third and fourth spot respectively. The fifth spot was covered by Porsche Carrera GT with $ 484,000.

The sixth spot also goes to Mercedes SLR McLaren with price tag of $ 455,500. The seventh spot was for Maybach 62 under the price tag of $ 385,250. On the eighth spot is Rolls-Royce Phantom wearing the price tag of $ 320,000 with Lamborghini Murcielago on the ninth spot tagged with $ 279,900 price. Nd the last among the list was Aston Martin Vanquish with only $ 255,000 as its price.

Kelley Blue Book’s Back-To-School Cars

2007-08-30T21:43:00.001-07:00

I was looking for a new car for my college student and found this new list from Kelley Blue Book. Kelley Blue Book is a reputable automotive website where you can learn more about your cars. They are also supplying trivia and update about the latest cars today, about which car is the best seller and which is not.

I found this list on the autochannel.com.

Top 10 Back-to-School Vehicles: New

2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 REGULAR CAB
MSRP: $17,815 New Car Blue Book: $17,459

2007 HONDA FIT SPORT
MSRP: $16,565 New Car Blue Book: $16,731

2008 JEEP PATRIOT SPORT
MSRP: $16,035 New Car Blue Book: $16,035

2007 KIA RIO5 SX HATCHBACK
MSRP: $15,220 New Car Blue Book: $14,916

2008 MAZDA3 i SPORT SEDAN
MSRP: $15,390 New Car Blue Book: $15,313

2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER DE
MSRP: $16,515 New Car Blue Book: $16,350

2008 NISSAN VERSA S SEDAN
MSRP: $13,975 New Car Blue Book: $13,975

2008 SCION xB SPORT WAGON
MSRP: $17,220 New Car Blue Book: $17,306

2007 SUZUKI SX4 HATCHBACK
MSRP: $16,724 New Car Blue Book: $16,640

2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT
MSRP: $17,205 New Car Blue Book: $17,205

The Kelley Blue Book also released the top ten hot used cars for students. Here is the list:

Top 10 Back-to-School Vehicles: Used

2005 CHEVROLET COBALT SEDAN
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,650

2004 FORD FOCUS ZX3 HATCHBACK
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $9,755

2003 FORD MUSTANG 2D COUPE
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,600

2003 HONDA CIVIC DX COUPE
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,865

2006 HYUNDAI ACCENT GLS SEDAN
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,600

2003 MAZDA TRIBUTE DX
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,615

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE5
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,915

2005 NISSAN SENTRA SEDAN
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,450

2004 PONTIAC VIBE SPORT WAGON
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,945

2003 TOYOTA TACOMA SHORTBED
KELLEY BLUE BOOK USED RETAIL VALUE: $11,030

asia-pacific region the future largest automotive market

2007-08-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest automotive market in the world by the year 2009, with China and India as the two contributors of large car sales in the region. This news was according to a U.S. Research Company announced last Thursday.

J.D. Power and Associates said, "By 2009, the Asia Pacific region is expected to net 23 million sales, compared with 22.7 million sales in Europe." The North American sales only noted 19.6 million units sold.

Jeff Schuster, the executive director of forecasting also was quoted saying "Steadily rising incomes in the Asia Pacific region will make vehicle ownership possible for more consumers in those areas, and we expect China and India to remain the forces that drive future global growth.”

This year, the Asia-Pacific company estimates 19.3 million units of sales. In Europe they also expect 21.6 million of car sales while in the North America 19.2 million units.

The Asia-Pacific sales in 2014 is also expected to reach 31.9 million units which is 36% of the world's total cars sold, meaning its 28% up from its sales in 2007.

In the Chinese car market, the sales are also expected to reach an annual average of 12% from 2007 and 2014. The units of cars sales will also reach 16.3 million units on that period. In the Indian car market, the sales are expected to reach 3.0 million units and also in Japan with 5.9 million units expected sales.

Treat Your Steering Wheel Right

2007-08-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

The steering wheel is among the most important part of your car. Without it, your car will never propel. It controls the movement of your car. Imagine a car without it. You can't right?

So might as well give your steering wheel the right kind of love. You can give your car a sportier new look, all you need is to replace your old steering wheel with a new one. How? Here are simple steps from ehow.com to help you do it:

The first thing you need to do is to look for the right steering wheel for your car. You will have to measure the previous steering wheel for you to be able to choose the one that fits to your car.

Make sure that your new steering wheel is not that big to cover the windshield or not to small for you to easily reach out on it.

Always select the shop where to buy it. Some shop sells cheap yet quality auto parts like steering wheel but they are made up with excellence and durability.

Look for a reputable shop to buy your new steering wheel. Be able to know which shop is the best source by asking from professional mechanic or friends and acquaintances.

Make sure to choose the shop that installs steering wheels for free. However, not all shops offer this. There are some that does not. So it would be better if you choose the one that installs the steering wheel.

When you are at a store, be able to know the design and style you like. There several kinds of steering wheels. These are Formula One-style racing wheels; Formula GT-style racing wheels boomerang-style wheels, four-spoke wheels, multi-color wheels, three-spoke wheels and ultratech-style wheels.

Now if you choose from the bunch, finally decide on what kind of material do you want you steering wheel be. There are also several materials used in steering wheels, these are vinyl wheels, wood wheels, leather wheels and carbon fiber wheels.

Then finally choose the right size and cosmetically pleasing and comfortable to you.

The Chevette with a V6

2007-08-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Autoblog reports about the weekend at the Woodward Avenue which appears to be the hottest place this time in the auto industry. It was the first time the folks at Autoblog report, that they saw a Chevette sporting a larger V6 engine. The was the only Chevette in the car avenue. The maker of the Chevette thought that the car needs two extra cylinders so Phil of Berkley, Michigan gave it 2 more to complete the 6 cylinders in full pack.

The first Chevette was released in 1976 and it took 12 long years before the owner decided to bring along 2 more cylinders matched on a supercharged engine adding the nitrous. After adding along a few more features like the super-nonstandard rear tires as well as side exhaust, it still stand handling the 27 mpg and finally goes streetable this time.

2008 Infiniti M Finally Revealed

2007-08-16T23:26:00.000-07:00

It has been two years since the Infiniti M was revealed and had its highly successful debut.

We became so excited after finding out that the luxury car brand of Nissan is revealing a new version of its Infiniti M this year. Before the year ends, Infiniti will reveal its 2008 version of the Infiniti M. If you are interested in this new car, you have to wait for this coming Saturday for this car to take its wraps off.

A few months ago, Nissan revealed the specification of the forthcoming Infiniti M. Autoblog.com released some of the highlights of the specifications of the new car. These are the following:

· Revised front and rear fascias, grille, rear decklid, rear fenders, taillamps, and chrome accents
· New 18" and 19" wheel designs
· Better visual differentiation between Sport Package and standard models
· Sport Package gets unique bumpers, side sills, dark headlight housings and 19" wheels
· Rain sensing wipers
· New paint colors
· All-wheel-drive V8 power with addition of M45x
· Introduction of camera-assisted Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system
· Updated wood and aluminum interior trim
· New center console
· Revised Hard Drive Nav System
· Updated Sport Package interior (seats, steering wheel & pedals)
· Updated gauges
· New and/or updated interior colors

The new car also features the new exclusive Infiniti's intelligent ATTESA™ E-TS all-wheel drive system matched on a 4.L V8 M45 engine powertrain parts. The new model called M45x also joins the M35x so that buyers will have a choice on which car will fit their needs for an all-climate AWD performance.

The interior as well as the exterior car parts were also given a few tweaks. From its exterior, you can see that the new car is slightly given a new luxurious look. The interior parts were also decorated with more brilliant style and trimmings. Aside from that, Infiniti also made the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system as a factory installed safety car part for the new car.

All these features come as a standard factory installed equipment in the new Infiniti M. If you wish to more about the new features added to the new car, you can log on to their official website.

The 2008 Lincoln Navigator

2007-08-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Ford finally rolls out the 2008 Lincoln Navigator, now sporting more changes but fewer options. If the previous model had these options such as PowerFold 3rd row seats, Power Liftgate, THX audio, heated/cooled front seats and SIRIUS satellite radio, the latest model have them all as a standard factory installed equipments.

The new Navigator also has the Monochrome Limited Trim Package available with more precise designs and great body structure. Other standard factory installed equipment includes lower cladding, lower grille and rearview mirrors adding more power to a total performance driving.

The main grille was also revamped adding the chrome grid that emphasizes a better look with additional shine removed on its front. The chrome hood remained on the new vehicle as a trimming. The Navigator also made the rearview camera available as an option for the very first time.

Comparing the previous model to its newest version, you would definitely indulge yourself over this 2008 edition. The clear major changes and the over-the-top new trimmings added to its strong competitive look. The new car was made even more quiet and comfortable for that stress-free driving. The new vehicle also added flat-folding third row seats which can be a huge appeal compared to Escalade and Denali.

The Lincoln Navigator was first introduced in the US car market as a full size luxury SUV for the Ford Motor Company in 1998. It was one among the first SUV vehicles ever produced by Lincoln and in fact was the largest full size luxury vehicle under the Detroit based car maker. It was also the first four-wheel drive car under Ford.

Mercedes Goes Green

2007-08-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

Japanese car makers are the world renowned best producers of eco-friendly cars, and the US car market is dominated with hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles that boasts their real time fuel efficiency. Almost all car makers in the US are venturing into building hybrid cars, but the Japanese car makers continue to take the lead. And because the government has stricter standards in terms of emission rates, these car makers are scrambling to make more fuel efficient cars.

Mercedes-Benz is one among the European car makers that ventured to the US car market. The German car maker had an unsavory reputation topping the list of the most harmful cars in the streets months ago.

Now however, the German car maker is proud to announce that they have launched the E300 Bluetec which is the very first clean diesel engine installed into passenger cars in the Europe. MB has been selling the Buetec models in the US for the past years and because the European government is also opting for a greener environment, MB decided to bring back the BlueTec to European car market to meet the future Euro 5 emissions standards.

The new car is handling a 3L V6 on a common-rail turbo-diesel which produced 211 horsepower running on a 398lbs/ft of torque which also accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 7.2 seconds. It can also propel on a top speed of 152 mph and return into a 32 mpg for both highway and city driving.

The new car is filled with high-tech and advanced features to cope with the increasing demands of the European drivers. It also has the multi-stage exhaust-gas treatment system as well as the diesel particulate filter to lower the emission rates effectively. The new feature also allows gas mileage.

MB is planning to make the new technology available on its cars for the future. The North American models like GL, M and R-Class models of 2008 have the BlueTec.

Land Rover Releases Range Rover Sport LE

2007-08-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Of course, you might already be fed up with the news that Ford is going to sell its Premiere Automotive Member Land Rover along with Jaguar. Anyway, let’s not talk about that. I was looking for news about cars and here is what I got from autoblog.com.

Even though they are looking for the most potential buyer of the Ford’s Land Rover, it didn't stop the UK car brand from releasing a new car version of the US most popular Range Rover Sport. The new car will be adding the LE on its name.

The Range Rover Sport LE is a limited edition of the current truck perhaps to start selling on the first two weeks of this month. Only 250 units of this vehicle will be produced and will be on display in few chosen showrooms in the US.

The car received few new trimmings including the new flush-mounted bumpers as well as the new roof spoiler. Ford also gave the Limited Edition Range Rover a body-colored lower cladding matched on a new rear exhaust "treatment," and tougher 20-inch Stormer wheels.

The interior packaging also includes some parts like:

Cold climate option
Adaptive front lighting
Premium leather seats
Hand-polished oak wooden trim
A center console cooler box
Unique carpet mats
Rear seat A/V system
Adaptive cruise control

All this exterior and interior car parts are standard factory installed parts for the New LE.

Under its hood, Ford gave it more power by mounting the V8 4.2L engine as well as the Land Rover's Terrain Response system. With its availability, the car holds the reputation of its company being a vehicle that can run on and off the road. The MRSP of the new Range Rover Sport LE will start at $81,450.

If you wish to have the new car now, fill up the line now and be one of the 25 new owners of the Limited Edition Rover Sport LE.

Nissan's July 2007 Sales in Europe

2007-08-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

Nissan Motor Corporation has been doing great on both the Japanese and US car markets and now, they are doing even better in Europe. The report on Nissan’s sale last month noted an 8.6% increase compared to July 2006. Nissan Europe was able to sell 48,100 units of Nissan vehicles last month.

Nissan performed well in the European car market these past months and their sales were noted to increase higher and higher from year to year. Nissan was able to get more sales in the different market in Europe such as Belgium, Central and Eastern Europe, France, Netherlands, Russia and other independent markets.

I found this list on theautochannel.com. The list shows the cars sold in July 2007 in comparison to July 2006. Here is the list:

Russia: 10,486 (33.1)

UK: 6,273 (6.7)

Spain: 5,820 (3.7)

Italy: 4,393 (-11.4)

Germany: 4,151 (-20.1)

France: 3,375 (12.5)

Ireland: 1,260 (3.3)

Greece: 1,209 (-11.3)

Netherlands: 990 (20.7)

Poland: 986 (53.3

The largest sale was noted in Russia with 33.1% increase compared to last year’s July. Last month, Nissan was able to sell 10,486 units of vehicles in the Russian car market. Coming next to Russia is UK with noted 6,273 units of Nissan cars sold which is 6.7% increase. It was followed by Italy but a decrease of 11.4% was noted. Germany also had the largest decrease on Nissan’s sales of 20.1% and sold only 4,151 units of cars. It was followed by France with 3,375 car sales and Ireland with 1,260 units sold. Greece also noted 11.3% decrease but Netherlands improved by selling 990 units which is a 20.7% increase. Poland has the least numbers of units sold amounting to 986 cars.

Nissan employs 12,000 workers in its European operations. Last year, Nissan produced a total of 506,602 vehicles on both Spanish and British facilities. Nissan’s head office is found in Trappes, Paris in France.

The Largest Recall for Ford Cars

2007-08-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Ford Motor Company experiences another fall back as they receive complaints about the faulty cruise control switch from its different car models. This is perhaps the biggest recall ever for Ford. The cars with noted faulty cruise control switch reportedly amounts to 3.6 million.

The Ford car models to undergo recall are the following:

1998-2002 Ford Ranger
1992-1997 Lincoln Town Car
1992-1997 Ford Crown Victoria
1992-1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
1993-1995 Taurus SHO
1999-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer
2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport
2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
1992-1993 E150-350 vans
1997-2002 E150-350 vans
1993 Ford F-Series pickups
1993 Ford Bronco
1994 Mercury Capri
2003-2004 Ford F-150 Lightning
1995-2002 Ford F53 motor homes

Almost all owners of these car models are from Europe, Canada and Mexico. Ford will be sending letters to the 177,000 different owners of the car models mentioned above. Just in case you're one of the owners of these cars, you can visit the nearest Ford dealership in your area for more information.

Ford has been reported for this type of faulty car part since 1999. Speed control system is one among the concerns and has been reported 6 times because of malfunctions. If you put it all together, Ford has 10.4 million cars involved with this problem.

"Customers remain concerned about the long-term durability of the speed control system and about the safety of their vehicles," the spokesman Dan Jarvis said. They admitted that Ford has been receiving reports about fires on the cars but there are no deaths, accidents and injuries reported.

Audi Tops Customer Satisfaction in China

2007-08-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 China Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) StudySM was topped by the German car maker Audi again for the second time. The news by theautochannel.com says Audi was the winner of the 2006 comparative study set by the J.D. Power Asia Pacific. Truly, Asian car buyers have this eye for cars with larger powertrain. Audi garnered a score of 828 points from the perfect score of 1000 and the four-ringed car maker was found on the top-three list for six straight years.

Audi was able to grab the title because of its excellence in making quality car for the China car market. J.D. Power Asia Pacific have been doing this study for the China market since 2001 and been analyzing the vehicles that is sold in the China market for its service quality as well as the satisfaction it gives to both dealers and customers. Audi was one among the best car makers to build quality car for the China car market and because of their efforts, it is just right to recognize them as the top carmaker that passed the Customer Satisfaction in China. Audi beat other 37 different competitors.

With 125 dealerships in 87 cities in China, one need not be surprised of the automaker's success in the fast-exploding China market. These dealerships were optimizing every car they made to pass the quality and standards of the car buyers. They are also known to provide great customer service operations.

The German automaker set a huge amount of car sales hitting the 50,000 vehicles in the country on the first half this year. This is almost 27% increase from its sales record last year.

German car makers are considered best makers of quality car like BMW and Mercedes.

Paris Hilton is Going Green

2007-07-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Art is looking at me with a scornful eyes, I know I promised that I will not write anything about Paris Hilton but the latest news on her is so hard to miss up that I felt I just got to write something about it.

The article on Tonight state that the hotel heiress was given a Ford hybrid in exchange of her gas-guzzling Range Rover. This news in a way has both good and bad sides to it. Good in the sense that at least the road is off with one more gas guzzler the bad news however is that Paris will be driving it.

And we all know just what a road hazard she is recalling all the news about her run-ins with the law which I am not going to discuss anymore since everybody knows of her 23 days ordeal in prison. Anyway, let’s just hope that she learned her lessons well because if not then we’re in for another road mishap only this time it will have lesser environmental impact since it’s an eco-friendly car. LOL

Here are some of the quoted statements of Paris Hilton at the music magazine BPM’s green party at Los Angeles’ Avalon night club and what she wrote on MySpace. I dare you to believe. LOL

At BPM’s Green Party
"I'm getting a car from Ford, a hybrid one. They gave me one. So, I think driving hybrid cars is the new way to go, and recycling."

At MySpace
“I'm going to start writing about ways kids can help save the world, because anyone can do it, no matter how old you are or where you're from.”---Hmmm…I wonder will she be doing the writing or will be paying someone to do it for her. You want to know what I think. LOL

“I just want this world to be a better place for my grandchildren.”---The big question is: will she be able to stick with one guy long enough to have children and longer still to have grandchildren? And with the type of driving skills that she has, does she really think she can survive every car accident caused by her?

These are big words coming from Paris Hilton. Oh well, let’s just wait and see.

Nissan’s Two Future Offerings

2007-07-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

This week Nissan has revealed two exciting products -- the first one is their highly innovative small van concept which was unveiled at the Nissan Design Europe (NDE).

The new van concept is called the NV200 and is scheduled to make its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this coming October. The most noticeable feature of the NV200 is the storage pod which extends from the van’s load area when the vehicle is parked. Once empty the pod is converted into a mobile office.

NV200 was a joint project of Nissan Design Center in Japan and NDE located in Paddington, London. Surprisingly, the team that worked on the NV200 didn’t have any pre-conceived ideas on the form of the new van fortunately despite such lack in design they have been able to come up with an entirely practical new concept.

Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd said "A light commercial vehicle has a specific job to perform, but that’s no reason to design a purely rational vehicle with no warmth. For NV200, function becomes the aesthetic. Our concept is a highly efficient tool but one with a human touch."

The NV200 according to Nissan will answer the specific needs of professional underwater photographer which means that this new van is an amphibious vehicle.

The other new product that I’ve failed to mention in the introduction is Nissan’s Preventive Drink-Driving Technology. This new technology makes use of an on-board breathalyzer system that disables the ignition when a high level of alcohol is detected from the driver’s breath.

Nissan is still in the process of testing this new technology to see the reliability, functionality, and practicality of the new technology applied to daily operating vehicles.

The Japanese automaker said that it use the test results to further its research and development in preventive drink-driving technology. It can be noted that last June, Nissan has announced that it will incorporate a message alert against drunk-driving into the CARWINGS navigation system. Aside from Nissan, Saab and Volvo are in the process of developing their very own breathalyzer devices.

Porsche 911 GT2 Revealed

2007-07-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

Porsche is saving something remarkable for the coming Frankfurt Motor Show on September 11, 2007 and its going to be based on the current 911 Turbo. The 911 GT2 is expected to easily ascend to lead the ever impressive Porsche lineup of vehicles.

The new 911 GT2 will sport some new features such as large air intakes at the front and the rear wing, together with the rear-wheel-drive and manual six-speed gearbox that expresses the supreme performance abilities that are exclusive to this particular model.

The new 911 GT2 can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and reaches top speed of 204 mph. Its 530 horsepower twin-turbo engine is based on the six-cylinder boxer engine of the 911 turbo, with air supply driven by two exhaust gas turbochargers that features variable turbine geometry (VTG).

Despite the immense power of the new GT2 it has low fuel consumption down by 15 percent courtesy of the oscillating air in the intake during the cooler expansion phase which keeps the temperature of the fuel/air mixture much lower than that of the 911 Turbo.

The GT2 has also functional design features such as:

a muffler and tailpipes made of titanium as standard equipment which reduces weight by approximately 50 percent
PCCB brakes that feature brake discs made of a composite carbon fiber/ceramic compound ensuring highly consistent and maximum stopping power
Porsche Active Suspension Management system
19-inch alloy wheels filled with 235/35 ZR 19 front sport tires and 325/30 ZR 19 rear sport tires.

The new Porsche 911 GT2 is scheduled to make its North American debut in early 2008 and will have a base price of $191,700.

2007 Volvo S80 detailed

2007-07-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

The updated flagship sedan of Volvo at a quick look seems very similar with the previous model. The redesigned Gothenburg, Sweden-built S80 presents the same broad-shouldered Swedish good looks that have characterized Volvo styling since they threw the sharp-edged box look.

Exterior:
Slightly longer wheel base
Slightly more athletic stance overall but still not aggressive
“Shimmer Gold Metallic” exterior body paint
Steeply raked windshield and flowing lines
Rearward slopping roofline
14.9 cu.-ft. trunk
Standard 17-inch tires with 15-spoke alloy wheels

Stronghold of safety technology:
Crash avoidance system
Industry-first blind spot indicator that flashes noticeably but unobtrusively on the rearview mirrors when a vehicle is in a blind spot on either side of the car.
Heartbeat sensor that senses the heartbeat of any villainous hiding in your car
All the air bags
Structural enhancements
Sophisticated restraints and chassis controls

Under the hood:
Traditional in-line engine but the new one is just a few millimeters longer than the in-line five it replaced
New 3.2-liter I6 that makes 235 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque
Dual overhead cams
Variable valve timing
Variable intake system
Cam profile switching

Performance:
0-60-mph takes about 8 seconds
Shift logic and a winter mode on the transmission

Efficiency:
19-mpg city and 28-mpg highway, California’s ultra-low emissions rating

Handling:
Smooth, quiet and luxurious as most mid-luxury sedans on the market
Independent strut front suspension with anti-dive geometry
Anti-roll bar
Fully independent rear multi-link setup

Interior:
Soft colors, smooth lines and simple controls
Two surfaces swooping organically across the dash with just the gauges inset
Stylized human shape with three sections on the center stack
Door on the dual cup holder
Leather seats

Standard audio equipment:
In-dash 6-CD changer
AM/FM stereo radio
Active sound control
Scan
Autostore
4X40-watt amplifier
8 speakers
Auxiliary input for MP3 and WMA players
Volume and mode controls on the steering wheel along with cruise control functions

At a base price of $38,705 for the S80 3.2 (six-cylinder), package includes all those amazing stuffs mentioned above and a few others like power glass sunroof, wood inlays inside, 8-way power seats with memory and lumbar supports for both fronts and dual-zone climate controls, keyless entry, and heated outside mirrors

Warranty coverage is at 48-month/50,000-mile plan.

As a mid-luxury car that is competing with the 5-Series Bimmer, Audi A6, E-Class Mercedes and lots of Japanese entrants in this race, the Volvo S80, in fairness, is good.

Cadillac BLS Wagon Headed to Europe

2007-07-10T01:04:00.000-07:00

The much awaited world premiere of the Cadillac BLS Wagon will take place at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany this coming September. But I think General Motors' Cadillac luxury division is very excited and released the details of the vehicle ahead of the show. Well, we cant blame them for that.

Anyway, according to Cadillac, the BLS Wagon is scheduled to roll out in dealer showrooms across the European continent in November, shortly after its debut in Frankfurt. The BLS Wagon comes in 4 model trim levels for the customers to choose from. These include Business, Elegance, Sport and Sport Luxury. Moreover, Cadillac said it would be offering a new variant for the BLS Wagon that is capable in running with bio-ethanol fuel.

Check out what Cadillac has in store for out fellow European car freaks! I hope GM will also launch the BLS Wagon here in the US.

Highlights of the Cadillac BLS Wagon include.

Powertrain
- 1.9-liter four-cylinder two stage turbo-diesel engine with common-rail direct-injection and pumps out 180 hp and 400 Nm amount of peak torque. This engine will be combined to a six-speed manual transmission, or to a five- or six-speed automatic gearbox.
- two other petrol engines including the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, and the 2.8-liter V6 unit capable of producing 255 hp with a twin-scroll turbocharger and variable phasing of the intake camshafts

Other features:
- Cadillac hallmark V-shaped chrome-plated grille
- Vertical tail lamps with the latest LED technology and rear bumper
- Three-spoke leather steering wheel and an analog clock in the center stack
- High-quality audio units from American sound specialist Bose
- DVD navigation system with touch-screen operation
- Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone system with a hands-free kit and remote controls on the steering wheel
- Comfort and driving dynamics
- Chassis developed to provide both the agility and comfort

The Cadillac BLS Wagon Business adds:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Cadillac’s StabiliTrak electronic stability program engine immobilizer
- front, side and head curtain airbags
- three-spoke leather steering wheel with control buttons
- seven-speaker audio system with CD player
- “Piano Black” interior decor trim.

Cadillac BLS Wagon Elegance adds:
- wipers with rain sensors
- eight-way power seats
- dual-zone climate control
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Red walnut wood veneer trim

Cadillac BLS Sport adds
- 18-inch wheels
- lowered sports suspension for the front MacPherson struts
- aluminum interior trim and the circular instruments with white numerals

Cadillac BLS Sport Luxury adds
- Bi-Xenon headlamps
- heated and electrically adjustable leather seats with memory function and wood trim

Meanwhile, Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor commented:
“The BLS Wagon is an appealing addition to the Cadillac portfolio for customers seeking dramatically designed luxury vehicles that offer versatility and performance along with outstanding ride and handling characteristics. We think it will do well in many European markets where consumers desire a high degree of versatility and functionality in their vehicles.”

Drive Defensively this Summer

2007-07-05T01:17:00.000-07:00

The summer season is the time where city streets and highways are congested with vehicles heading for road trips or just taking joy rides and burn some gas. This season is also the time where traffic accidents are more likely to occur, as drivers spend more time on the road during summer compared to other seasons.

So this only means that you should ensure your safety when driving, specially if you are with your family or friends to avoid endangering their lives. I think the most effective way to this is to drive defensively. Check out these defensive driving guides I got from PassingTheDMVTest.com to help you out.

Look a few blocks ahead
By looking farther ahead, you can detect and avoid dangerous situations before or as they happen, such as a car coming to an abrupt stop or a child running into traffic.

Look for a way out
Always have an exit strategy in mind. Having one can help you to react to dangerous situations quickly and safely.

Keep your distance
the rule of thumb is that you should leave a 3-second gap between you and the car in front of you. Roughly, that translates into 1 car distance for every 10 miles an hour driven.

Signal your intentions
Whether you are making a right or left turn or changing lanes, always signal where you intend to go. This alerts other drivers in advance and allows them to keep their distance, even if you don’t see them (for example, an on-coming vehicle as you are making a left turn).

Look, then back up
Among the leading cause of accidents is backing up into something or someone. Powell recommends taking a stroll around your vehicle before entering it. Doing so can help you avoid hitting objects that are in close range. Once you are in and ready to back up, check your rearview and side mirrors. Then physically turn your body to the rear and scan the surrounding area for any adults, kids or cars that are coming up behind you.

Meanwhile, Charles Powell, creator of Passing the Written DMV Test added: “Fatalities due to traffic accidents increase in the summer, because people tend to spend more time on the road."

So the next time you hit the road, just remember these tips and you won't regret it.

Bosch to Deliver Diesel-Hybrid Technology on sale on a Garage

2007-06-16T01:34:00.000-07:00

Bosch, a popular auto parts manufacturer has announced recently that it has signed a contract with one of Europe’s carmakers for the supply of diesel-hybrid technology. According to Bosch the system would be ready by 2010 and it would become the new benchmark in fuel consumption. And of course the issue on harmful emissions is also taken into consideration, the carbon-dioxide emissions level that the new hybrid technology will produce is below 100g/km.

The contract will call for Bosch to supply the needed motor and electronic controller that would be made to function in conjunction with a diesel powerplant. It can be noted that automakers have not really considered seriously the production of diesel hybrid powertrains since it’s too costly for them but due to the extreme pressure that they are getting from the government and from countless environmental groups to reduce CO2 emissions, they are forced to reconsider the idea.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is hoping to be the first automaker to introduce diesel hybrid vehicles. Automotive News has also reported that Bosch is still bidding with the French Group to produce a hybrid version of its other models and not just the midsized 308.

The French automaker is also said to be in the process of developing its very own system for the 308 which it claimed will be ready by 2010. Aside from PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Bosch will also be supplying petrol-electric hybrid technology to Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi which will start next year.

Audi RS4 Cabrio Headed for the US!

2007-06-08T18:40:00.001-07:00

Sports car fans, here is one good news for all of ya!

Audi has recently announced on their official press release that the high performance RS4 Cabriolet will arrive in US shores and will roll out in Audi dealer showrooms all over the country as a 2008 model year. In addition, the Ingolstadt, Germany-based automaker also announced that the Audi RS4 sedan currently offered in the US market will receive new features and optional packages for the customers.

For the Audi RS4 Cabriolet, Audi said they will only produce 300 units of this model that will be on sale in US dealerships starting this fall. Audi did not yet announced the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of the RS4 Cabriolet, so watch out for other upcoming company press releases for you to find out. Anyway, check out what does the Audi RS4 Cabriolet model has in store for us.

Highlights of the Audi RS4 Cabriolet:

- 4.2 V8 FSI engine with 420 hp at 7,800 rpm and 317 ft-lbs. of torque at 5,500 rpm
- Six- speed manual gearbox
- Quattro(R) all-wheel drive featuring the asymmetrical dynamic torque split
- 19-inch RS 4-style alloy wheels with 255/35/ 19 performance tires
- four-link front and trapezoidal- link rear sport-tuned suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), and 14.4" front and 12.8" rear brake rotors.

For the Audi RS4 sedan, new packages offered include:

Titanium package - $750
- titanium colored 19-inch RS 4- style alloy wheels
- black front grille
- black side window moldings
- black interior headliner
- black interior trim.

Audi exclusive package - $3,800
- Crimson red leather seat centers
- black leather side bolsters and head rests
- Crimson red door trim
- contrasting red seat piping, red stitching on the shift boot and steering wheel
- piano black interior trim
- carpeted floor mats with RS 4 logo and contrasting piping
- Audi exclusive badging
- Standard Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth

Now it is time to visit the nearest Audi dealer showroom in your area and place your orders.

One of the Best Five Vehicles for the Summer Holiday: All-new Hyundai Veracruz

2007-06-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

CarConnection.com reviewed more than 100 vehicles as possible contenders, and ended up selecting the all-new Hyundai Veracruz midsize crossover as one of the next best vehicles for this year's summer road trip.

According to the website, the Veracruz is not just challenging co-Asian brands like Mazda, Honda and Toyota with its new offerings but is also competent enough to lead over and draw some curiosity from those looking for variety of automobile with high price models like the Murano, Nissan and the Lexus RX350. They reiterated during the Detroit Auto Show that "the Veracruz doesn't just show that Hyundai's arrived - it shows it's going places, too."

But what are the features that made this model to be one of the best five vehicles? Well guys it’s because it possesses clever and well-designed styling which is fashionable and nice to look at. At the same time, designers made sure that it will be as flexible and comfortable as ever, proof to this are the seats tilt slide or can be folded away and a spacious partition about 86.8 cubic foot for cargoes.

Since its launching last April of this year, the Veracruz has gained praiseand at the same time has received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five-star frontal and side crash ratings in the sport utility vehicle.

Other Features that attests the Veracruz as a vehicle of style and design includes the following:

- Standard 3.8-liter V6 engine
- A third row seat
- An AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio(R)/CD/MP3 audio system (that includes six speakers)
- Reading lamps
- Advanced safety equipment
- Wraparound head and taillights
- Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
-Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) (for extraordinary stopping distance)
- Traction control
- Stability control
- Anti-whiplash active front head restraints
- Six airbags with side air curtains (protect all three rows during side impacts)

IIHS Recognizes Volvo C70's Safety Features

2007-06-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Volvo Cars of North America was very proud of the recognition given by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the safety features found on the Volvo C70 convertible coupe model. During the recent crash test for convertible models conducted by IIHS, the Volvo C70 earned the "Top Safety Pick" award for frontal, side, and rear impact protection. The C70 earned the award along with the Saab 9-3.

Anne Belec, President and CEO, Volvo Cars of North America exclaimed: "For more than 80 years, Volvo has built cars with Safety in mind. We are extremely pleased to have done well in the Institutes' testing program. From the very start of our modern convertible program, our goal was to bring advanced technology and engineering skills into this flagship vehicle."

The Volvo C70 earned the Top Safety Pick from IIHS, thanks to the vehicle's numerous advanced safety features inside and out. These include the Inflatable Curtain (IC), four seats with seat belt pretensioners, side impact airbags, Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), three-piece steering column designed to pivot up and collapse away from the driver, Volvo's Roll Over Protection System (ROPS), Rollover Protection pop-up roll bars, and energy absorbing body structure made of High Strength Steel, Extra High Strength Steel and Ultra-High Strength Steel (UHSS).

Volvo Cars installed the newest safety feature, the Inflatable Curtain to provide additional protection to side impact crashes. Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of Safety for Volvo Car Corporation explained how the IC works:

"As there are no roof members to which the curtain can be attached it is mounted in the door. When activated it is directed upwards. The curtain has an extra stiff construction with double rows of slats that are slightly offset from each other. This allows them to remain upright and offer effective head protection even with the window open. The curtain also deflates slowly to provide protection should the car roll over. This is a unique solution in the automotive world."

The All-New Nissan Dualis in Detail

2007-05-31T01:28:00.000-07:00

Nissan has recently released the details and announced the availability of the Europe-designed Dualis mid size crossover SUV. The car is already on sale in Nissan dealerships all over Japan. According to a Nissan press release, the Nissan Dualis "features an unprecedented vehicle body size and packaging combination with a definite European flavor" and the vehicle's body styling "approach those of a compact hatchback, while incorporating the spaciousness required of an SUV". In addition, Nissan also said that the Dualis name embodies a "concept of a car that allows users to enjoy enriched dual lifestyles that they can switch between as they please."

Nissan did not include the availability of this vehicle in other markers including here in the US. Anyway, check out what the all-new Nissan Dualis SUV has to offer.

Exterior
- Sporty front bumper
- Grille with signature design of Nissan SUVs in the European market
- Blue clearance lamps impart a high-tech image to the three-dimensional design of the headlamps.
- A dynamic character line continues from the fender into the roof
- Xenon headlamps with automatic lighting functionality
- LED high-mounted stop lamp
- Five exterior colors: Diamond Silver, Urban Cement Gray, Meto Black, Café Latte Beige and Reddish Copper.

Interior
- Relaxing interior environment and large luggage area
- Raised center console
- Stylish glass roof adopts 6-mm-thick laminated privacy glass with an ultraviolet (UV) ray blocking capability
- Combination meter cluster with a sporty aluminum-looking panel
- Metallic finish shift knob
- Center console box with a sports car design and armrest
- lLrge-capacity glove box with a cooler
- Console box and front and rear door pockets
- Air conditioning system with dual-zone temperature control
- Nissan's HDD-based CARWINGS navigation system, featuring a touch panel screen for easier operation
- Music box and DVD audio/video playback
- Bluetooth hands-free interface
- Nissan's Intelligent Key System with improved anti-theft functionality
- Side-view monitor that reduces blind spots
- Front-seat Active Head Restraints
- Dual SRS airbag systems for the driver and front passenger
- Double pretensioner seatbelt with two-stage load limiter for the driver
- Pretensioner seatbelt with load limiter for the front passenger,
- Separate rear-seat head restraints
- Tree-point rear seatbelts

Technical Specs
- Newly developed front strut suspension and rear multi-link suspension
- Behicle-speed-sensitive electric power steering system
- Nissan's MR20DE engine
- Nissan's newly developed XTRONIC CVT-M6, a continuously variable transmission with a six-speed manual shift mode
- newly adopted Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) function
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) system
- Advanced All-Mode 4x4 system
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system