2008 Corvette Will Burn Down Old Prejudices

What crosses your mind when the heads-up display shows 63 mph and you're still in second gear has nothing to do with the torque and ferocious power in the 2008 Corvette. Instead, you wonder what anyone would do with even more ponies that come in the Z06 edition. Of course, Corvettes have always spooled up an impressive amount of power. But historically, it's been about as tractable as a hammer. Truth is, Corvettes have been terrible sports cars for most of their existence: unpredictable chassis flex, crude suspension for the power and hurry-up-and-wait engine response.

No more. Beginning with the C5, Chevrolet got serious about bringing harmony and responsiveness to the brute. The car began winning sports-car races. It also began winning converts who have long dismissed it as a glorified muscle car. The 2008 edition of the C6 has more power (430 hp) and torque (424 lb.-ft.). The linkage on its six-speed transmission is much (and gratefully) improved, making for shorter and easier-to-find throws. But it's the car's suspension that will take away your breath.

The road course on GM's storied Proving Grounds throws everything imginable at a car, including off-camber turns with chatter bumps that would bounce a lesser sports car into the ditch at speeds over 80 mph. The Corvette stayed planted. Dial in late on a turn, and the car's traction control would take away the party with the minimal amount of interference. Our test model didn't get five minutes of respite from a half day of the hardest driving imaginable, yet there wasn't even a hint of brake fade by late afternoon. Next up for Corvette: please upgrade the cheesy interior.

Via Wired

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Former Toyota USA President Never Owned A Toyota Or Lexus

Chrysler media blog's got an interview with the new Vice-Chairman of "The New Chrysler," Jim Press. Much of it's a nice little flufferview of the guy who until being snagged by Cerberus, spent thirty years at Toyota, eventually becoming President of Toyota USA and the only non-Japanese ToMoCo board member. Still, at the end of the interview was a little blurb that stood out as shockingly note-worthy:

"Press has always loved cars. He built his first go-cart at age seven, got his first car when he was 12. At age 13, he started washing cars at his family's dealership in Kansas. But he said he never bought a Toyota or Lexus. The only vehicle he owns is a Yamaha motorcycle. But he'll soon be driving Chrysler vehicles."

Are you kidding us -- the guy worked for Toyota for over 30 years and never once bought one of the vehicles he sold? We're stunned. Seriously, stunned. Full verbiage of the post below the jump.

Press Sees Strength in Dealers, Investment in Future from Cerberus

Posted Sep 27, 2007, 10:34 AM by Mike Ellis

He's been on the job for less than a week, but brings a wealth of automotive experience to Chrysler. So what does Jim Press, the new Vice Chairman and President, think needs to change at Chrysler?

Ask the Chrysler workers and dealers - they already know what changes need to be made, he said in a candid interview with the TheFirehouse.

"One of the things I've learned over the years is the talent in the organization doesn't rest wherever the executive floor might be," he said on Wednesday. "What we need to do is create the atmosphere and the environment for people to realize and do what they need to do to take care of the customer."

"I don't have any playbook, I don't have any secret codes, and there's no silver bullet here. It's about empowering the organization, driving decision making closer to the level where they know what needs to be done, closer to the customer."

Press has already visited three Chrysler dealerships during his first four days on the job, and he plans to visit many more. Chrysler dealers have weathered good times and bad, they have more seniority than Chrysler management, and nobody knows more about how to sell cars.

The veteran dealers and the strong workforce are some of the reasons he joined Chrysler from Toyota, Press said.

"I have a saying and that is the strongest steel comes from the hottest fire, and there's been a lot of fire here and there's a lot of strength," he said.

When asked why he is so sure that Chrysler will gain market share in the future, he said that Chrysler vehicle lineup gives him confidence.

"The bones of our products are really strong. They're emotional, they're fun, they're exciting. They have an appeal that other products don't have. And they have good integrity."

Chrysler's competitors are growing fiercer, he said, but "they're starting to face a little bit of a headwind themselves, and I think that opens the door for us," he said. "We're nimble. We have new ownership. Our new ownership has empowered us to do things right. We don't have a lot of constraints that other companies do. We can be nimble, we can be fast, we can be flexible."

The foresight and the capital of parent Cerberus Capital Management gives Chrysler a great advantage, he said.

"We have been given the opportunity to earmark a ton of money for development of advanced products," he said. "Things that are really necessary to have a strong foundation for the future are being put in place. And one of them is product development of advanced technology."

Another reason for optimism is the opportunity to expand the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands outside the United States, he said.

"If you look at the global auto market, do you know that we're adding a 100,000 cars a day to the planet. And someone else is selling all those vehicles outside the United States, and we ought to get our share, especially if we can get our 10 or 11 percent share here outside," he said.

Press has always loved cars. He built his first go-cart at age seven, got his first car when he was 12. At age 13, he started washing cars at his family's dealership in Kansas. But he said he never bought a Toyota or Lexus. The only vehicle he owns is a Yamaha motorcycle. But he'll soon be driving Chrysler vehicles.

Via Jalopnik

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Facelifted BMW 3-series

Now that all of its siblings have been introduced over the past two years, the plain Jane BMW 3-Series sedan has slipped off for a nip/tuck rejuvenation session. Not much will change, but the car is expected to get new headlights with more prominent "angel eyes," a higher hood, LED tail lights, and a revised interior. It will also get a wider grill, a feature from the CS Coupe that's been finding its way on BMW concepts and redesigns.

Under that higher hood will be a new selection of engines that won't include BMW's start/stop technology just yet, but should up the stakes in the frugality department in terms of gas and CO2. Expect a variable twin turbo 204 bhp 4-cylinder diesel that puts out 138g of CO2 per km.


Via Autoblog

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Toyota reveals Mark X ZiO

Joe Camel spends a night with an R Class, and what do you get? The Toyota Mark X ZiO. Surprisingly stylish, the "new class vehicle" from Toyota is further proof that the rest of the world gets their interesting stuff while we're stuck with the geriatric Corolla, fugly Solara, and various bulbous Utility Giants.

The production realization of the FSC concept from 2005, the ZiO is available in two versions, the four-cylinder 240G, or the more sprightly 350G with a 3.5-liter V6. With four large doors and a well appointed interior, not to mention the car-like demeanor, this is a far more useful and practical vehicle than, say, the Highlander.

Its pricing puts it in the mid-to-! high $20,000s for Japanese consumers -- RAV-4 territory. The target customers are up and coming 30 and 40 year olds, and were it to ever come Stateside, there might be family appeal for people that'd buy a Camry wagon if afforded the choice.

Via Autoblog

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2007 Bentley Continental GTC

As-tested price: $202,895
Drivetrain: 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12; awd, six-speed automatic
Output: 552 hp @ 6100 rpm, 479 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
Curb weight: 5456 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA): 13 mpg
Options: 19-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels—bright machined finish ($1,540); satellite radio ($1,140); contrast stitching to seats' fascia and door panels ($990); upgraded veneer—dark stained burr walnut ($890); lumbar massage to both front seats ($540); two-tone-hide-trimmed multifunction steering wheel ($490); deep-pile carpet mats with hide trimming to front and rear ($440); Mulliner alloy fuel-filler cap ($290); valet parking key ($290)


OUR TAKE: Put the top down (one button, no latching or unlatching anything) and listen to the W12 idle, a beautiful muted rumble. Step on the gas, and acceleration from a stop is brisk, but out on the highway, say from 60 to 80 mph, oh baby, that's where you appreciate the twin turbos. And yet it is all so subdued and quiet it's like you're not even really accelerating, just being whisked along, faster and faster, by some unknown force. The ride is near perfect, firm but not too hard. The car stuck like the proverbial glue on every off-ramp, thanks in large part to its all-wheel drive.

Even though the chassis is stiffened (stronger sills, crossmembers on front and rear suspension, beefed-up A-pillars), there is still a little chassis flex, but nothing too serious. The ride is nice and quiet with the top up, and, of course, the interior's leather and wood is gorgeous and superbly assembled.

We are somewhat amused, however, that a $196,000 car can actually have $5,000 worth of options added to it, and things like satellite radio and cut-pile carpeting with aluminum trim wouldn't be part of the standard package.


Via Autoweek

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Cybercar concept

A driverless car which is controlled by computer and uses lasers to avoid obstacles is being demonstrated in a Northamptonshire town.

Daventry is investigating ways to increase the use of public transport and reduce reliance on cars.

The town council believes the Cybercars, which are called by pressing a button on the route and go direct to their destination, could be the answer.

The vehicles can be seen on a test track at the town's Eastern Way.

Light track

The demonstration, until 5 October, follows Daventry's involvement in the European Commission research group CityMobil, and similar events are taking place throughout E! urope.

Cybercars are designed for short trips at low speed in an urban environment and need only a very light track to operate.

They aim to take people to a specific zone where private car access is limited and would be most efficient over short distances and in tourist areas.

Daventry District Council leader Chris Millar said: "We can build lots more car parks and have lots more cars going in or we can look at a viable alternative to the car.


Source News

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Volkswagen plans to overtake Toyota

Volkswagen has revealed that it plans to take on the newly minted global leader Toyota and become the world's largest carmaker by 2015. The ambitious goal was confirmed by Michael Kern, head of sales and marketing for the Volkswagen brand, who said they aim to beat Toyota on both vehicle sales and profitability.

According to Kern, VW plans to bring 12 new models to its lineup in the next three years, a level unprecedented by any large carmaker. Kern was also quoted in German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport as saying "we are going to expand our presence in the United States, Russia, India and other markets."

One of the previews at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show was the ! up! minicar concept. Small cars are expected to be the Next Big Thing as the Indian and Chinese middle class mobilize.

As of 2007, however, Volkswagen is far behind Toyota and GM in sales. The company will manage to sell just over 6 million cars compared to more than 9 million for the two leaders.



Source Autoblog

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Audi delaying CUV launches until 2009

Audi is going to put off the launch of three new SUVs into its arsenal until the end of the decade, primarily for marketing reasons. Really, it's only one new model – the compact Q5 – plus diesel and hybrid versions of its Q7 crossover.

The reason for the delay is primarily to avoid Audi's newest entrants from getting lost in the ether of year-end sales drives, and thus allowing all three vehicles to be marketed as 2010 models, which were originally destined for sale in the third quarter of 2008.

Although we haven't seen the Q5, meant to compete with BMW's X3 and Mercedes' upcoming GLK, it's been well known that the new cute 'ute has been under development for! some time, finding a home atop the VW Tiguan platform. The diesel Q7 will be arriving around the same time, and will come to market packing a three-liter turbo-diesel V6, producing 230 HP and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Since the new engine will be 50-state compliant, it's "just a matter of formality," according to Audi's U.S. head Johan de Nysschen, that the oilburner will find its way into the A4, A6 and A8 models of the future.

All three vehicles, including the 280 HP V6 hybrid-equipped Q7, are all likely to be revealed in Detroit in 2009.


Source Autoblog

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Electric cars are the future.

ELECTRIC cars are the future. That, at least, is the message automakers are sending to consumers as they trumpet big plans for cars that can bypass the gas pump.

Of course, backers of electric vehicles, or E.V.'s, floated those assurances in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, when General Motors released its star-crossed EV1. Today, almost no one drives an electric car.

But with a gallon of premium gas topping $3 on average, and as carmakers and entrepreneurs pour money into the latest generation of electric cars, the prospects appear brighter.

Trading the internal combustion engine for batteries could bring well-publicized advantages: re! ducing pollution, raising mileage, promoting energy independence. E.V.'s and plug-in hybrids could deliver the gasoline equivalent of 100 miles a gallon or more. For consumers, that would in effect roll back the clock to buck-a-gallon gas. Car owners could save money in their sleep, recharging in the off hours when electricity is cheapest.

And compared with hydrogen fuel-cell cars, the infrastructure for electric cars already exists, requiring only more plugs in more places. Aside from home recharging, it would be easier to install pay-per-use outlets at curbsides and in parking lots than to spawn a network of hydrogen filling stations. Wal-Mart and McDonald's might offer convenient electricity for customers or employees.

Sounds good? There is one problem. There is still not a single E.V. or plug-in hybrid available that can approach the driving range, interior room and performance of a typical gas-powered family sedan, at anywhere near the price t! hat an average consumer would pay.

From a technical! standpo int, the Tesla Roadster may well be the most impressive E.V. yet. But this plug-in two-seater, based on the Lotus Elise, is cramped and has near-zero cargo space. Its $100,000 price is well beyond the budget of even most sports car buyers.

So automakers, including Tesla, are again assuring Americans that practical, affordable E.V.'s are on the way.

Experts say the cars' arrival hinges on two make-or-break issues:

Developing safe, affordable lithium-ion batteries lasting 100,000 miles.

Overcoming a psychological barrier among people who can imagine the benefits — but who can also see themselves stranded with a dead battery and no place or time to recharge.

As for batteries, progress has been made, but more is needed. The EV1 started with old-school lead-acid batteries; today's hybrids have more robust nickel-metal-hydride units. But the most efficient batteries are lithium-ion, the kind found in cellphones and lap! tops. These cells would double or triple the power of, say, a Toyota Prius battery pack, but at half the weight or size.

Prabhakar Patil is chief executive of Compact Power, a company vying to power a G.M. plug-in hybrid based on the Chevrolet Volt concept car — and to have them ready by 2010 or 2011. He was previously chief engineer for the Ford Escape Hybrid.

He is convinced that his company can bring in lithium-ion batteries on time and on budget — and that plug-in hybrids are the necessary bridge between gasoline and pure E.V.'s.

"If you had asked me even five years ago, I'd have said forget it," Mr. Patil said of the technology's prospects. But since Sony offered the first commercial lithium-ion cells in 1991, their costs have fallen by a factor of 12, he said. Today, California's Air Resources Board calculates that lithium-ion packs would cost $3,000 to $4,000 in mass production, cheap enough to be feasible.

! As with most plug-in proponents, G.M. envisions its Volt as a ! second c ar in a household, the one that handles commuting and errands. The Volt is designed to travel up to 40 miles on battery power alone, delivering the equivalent of 100 m.p.g. or more.

The Volt's gasoline engine would be used solely to charge the batteries, delivering a total range of 640 miles. At the Frankfurt auto show this month, G.M.'s Opel division showed the Flextreme, a variation on the Volt with a small diesel engine charging the batteries.

The issue of travel range brings up the second E.V. hurdle: the psychology of electricity. After 10 years of sales and heavy publicity, hybrids have grabbed less than 2 percent of the market. And that's for cars that don't need to be plugged in.

That's why the plug-in hybrid "is a great step toward a pure E.V.," Mr. Patil said, adding, "You skip the gas station, save time and money, and it takes away the fear factor on the limited range."

Every plug-in and E.V. on the hor! izon still takes several hours to charge, though some new approaches are being considered. Altair Nanotechnologies of Reno, Nev., claims that its batteries can be juiced up in 10 minutes via a special high-voltage charging unit, thanks to minutely scaled lithium titanate electrode materials. Those performance claims will be tested when Altair supplies batteries for a promised electric pickup from Phoenix Motorcars.

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McLaren-Mercedes Won't Appeal Penalties

The McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team will not appeal the $100 million fine handed down by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council as a result of its involvement in the Ferrari industrial espionage scandal. The WMSC also stripped the team of its constructors' championship points earned this season after it determined in a Sept. 13 hearing that several team members had been in possession of confidential Ferrari information given originally to suspended McLaren designer Mike Coughlan by disgruntled Ferrari chief mechanic Nigel Stepney.

McLaren argued at a previous hearing that Coughlan was a "rogue" employee acting on his own and that he did not disseminate the information wi! thin the team. The FIA accepted that argument and issued no penalties, but reserved the right to revisit the matter if new evidence came to light. When it emerged later that McLaren race driver Fernando Alonso and test driver Pedro de la Rosa had exchanged e-mails referring to some of Ferrari's confidential data, a new hearing was scheduled, the result of which was the fine and points deduction. McLaren had the option to appeal the verdict, but team boss Ron Dennis hinted that he would rather pay the fine and receive "closure" on the entire affair.

McLaren Racing has notified the FIA of its intention not to appeal the verdict of the World Motor Sport Council, as announced on September 13, 2007.

Having now had time to study the judgement of the World Motor Sport Council with its lawyers and shareholders, McLaren thinks it is in the best interests of the sport, and its goal of winning races and world championships, not to appeal.

It is clear f! rom the full judgement that the World Motor Sport Council conc! luded th at the charge that a McLaren employee had "unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information" was proven.

Despite the existence of no evidence that the information was applied, tested or shared with the engineering team (which it was not), this possession constitutes a breach of the Code. To our regret and embarrassment, the content of the previously unknown e-mails demonstrated possession not being limited to a single person, albeit unsanctioned in any way by the team. For this breach of Article 151c, a very heavy penalty has been imposed on the team.

The major principle of the issue for McLaren is: this information was not used to gain advantage on its cars.

Moving forwards, and in consultation with our shareholders, we will now review and further strengthen our internal compliance structures and processes.

Ron Dennis said: "We believe the time has come to put this huge distraction behind us. McLaren wants to win ! races and world championships. We are fortunate to have, and continue to receive, unwavering support from our employees, sponsor partners and Formula One fans across the world--all of whom are equally keen that we totally focus on winning this year's drivers' championship and the remaining three races of the season."

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Is There Such a Thing as Too Fast?

I'm lucky enough to have driven some very fast cars. Name an Italian marque that uses a pissed-off quadraped for a logo, and I've taken one of their vehicles well into the triple digits. Same goes for pretty much any other exotic—Porsche, Bentley, BMW, the list goes on. And I've NEVER even contemplated thinking that one of them was too fast. Until today. I just stepped off BMW's 2007 K1200R, one of the most powerful motorcycles in the world. I picked it up last night and almost died. Like, a thousand times. I can't pin down an exact 0-60 time—the number I see a lot is 2.8 seconds, but I think that's the figure for it's even more powerful, fully-f! aired brother, the K1200S, which, thanks to a more efficient air intake that's integrated into its fairing, has a 4-hp advantage over the R's 163. Yeah, that's right, I said 1-6-3. Horsepower. In a 529-lb bike. The Suzuki GSX1300R Hyabusa, unofficially touted as a 200-mph machine, has 175 ponies.

Take the jump to see if I severely injured myself riding the thing.

After about 20 minutes in traffic, I was astonished at the K-bike's violent acceleration—I drive an old Moto Guzzi, you know, when it runs. It was a pretty fast bike in its day. The BMW, however, pulled so hard my spine felt like it was about 2-inches shorter. But a figure kept popping into my head: 10,250. Where had I seen that number before? As I pulled into my driveway it hit me: that was the number of rpms where the bike achieved maximum horsepower. I hadn't cleared 5k on my ride home, which meant that I hadn't even begun to experience the bike's true power. Shit. I backed out of my dr! iveway and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge, then the Marin H! eadlands , and eventually one of my favorite roads (sorry, but I'm not revealing its location).

The bike is definitely at home on the highway, a Bahnstormer in the truest BMW fashion. Each gear, each twist of the throttle brings to mind a new clichéd comparison with a winged vehicle. I didn't spend a lot of time looking at the speedometer, because, well, you really have to pay attention when you can hit 60 in less than three seconds and 100 in about five. Once, when passing a semi that was choking up the two-lane road at 60mph, I did hazard a look down to see the needle touching 130. Yikes! BMW claims the K1200R can do 155, but the bike had plenty more to give at 130. I'll leave it to someone else to test this motorcycle's actual top speed. I'm happy piloting something slower... you know, like a Ferrari.



Source Wired

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Audi Abt AS6 3.0 TDI

Will diesels ever fill the performance gap with gas burners in the car-buying marketplace (and not just the Le Mans track)? Perhaps. The Kempten tuners at Abt say they've tweaked 300 horsepower from Audi's 3.0 TDI. It's a 20 percent increase from stock, by way of a supercharger and ECU remapping. It can turn under sevens in the zero-to-60 sprint, which isn't bad for an oil burner. Of course, we're waiting until Audi's V12 TDI starts showing up in these things. And not via Ingolstadt, either.

The newest brilliant invention forthcoming from the Bavarian art of engineering is the 3.0 TDI Diesel with a work performance of 100 hp per liter. A real steam hammer fro! m the engine fitness center of Abt Sportsline. The performance data of the Abt AS6 3.0 TDI are impressing, more than ever in comparison with the serial engine. The power increase amounts to around 20 percent; instead of 233 hp (171 kW), now 300 Diesel horses are available. And they push the car forward with overwhelming power. The maximum torque, getting free at 4000 rpm, is breathtaking 600 Nm. At the same torque, the already powerful serial self-igniting engine gives 450 Nm to the crankshaft. 33 percent torque increase is enough reason that the Abt AS6 3.0 TDI becomes more sporty. The 300 Diesel horses do not only offer a sporty feeling, also the acceleration data correspond to sporty top-class cars. Within 6.9 seconds the AS6 is catapulted to 100 and to a top speed of 249 km/h (serial 242 km/h). This enormous additional performance potential of the Abt V6 TDI is made possible by the new programming of the engine management and by the assembly of the Abt supercharger whic! h is especially adjusted to the engine. As usual for the leadi! ng tuner of cars from the Volkswagen group, also this Diesel steam hammer is stable and absolutely suitable for everyday use.

In order that the powerful AS6 3.0 TDI always remains controllable, the team from Abt installed the Abt brake system and this proves to always cope with the additional requirement. And so does the adjustable suspension, perfectly adjusted by the DTM Pro Christian Abt, which optimally brings the power onto the road. Diesel and driving pleasure are finally joining their forces in the A6. Of course, the designers from Kempten also developed a tailor-made suit for the premium sportscar. Abt side skirts create a dynamical line from the elegant but outstanding front with the unobtrusive front spoiler lip to the brawny rear. The broad fenders with the outwards aligned rims are extra emphasized by the Abt rear skirt. Anyway, most road users will only see the Abt AS6 from behind and there an impressive view is offered. With the rear spoiler and the four chr! omed Abt end-pipes also the car's back view appears optically powerful. Appearance and performance are a good match. As a matter of course, Abt Sportsline also offers suitable wheels and wheel-tyre sets for the AS6 and recommends, e.g., the sports wheel AR20 in the size 9.0 x 20 inch.


Source Jalopnik

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Are You Too Fat for Your Car?

Too much, probably, if our cars' maximum permissible load ratings are any indication. We might be surprised to realize just how easy it is to exceed a manufacturer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for a passenger car or a sport-utility vehicle. That figure, when exceeded, absolves the automaker of blame in the event of mechanical or dynamic failure. Honda, for example, notes in the owner's manual of its four-passenger Element: The maximum load for your vehicle is 675 pounds (308 kg). This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, and accessories, and the tongue load of you are towing a trailer. It's not hard to imagine, in a vehicle with seating for four, as much as 77 cubic feet of cargo space, provisions for a roof rack and a 1500-pound towing capacity, handling topping that 675-pound limit. (For the sake of off-the-wall comparison, this writer's 1974 Volkswagen Beetle is rated to carry some 870 pounds.) To wit: The eight-cylinder Chevrolet Corvette and the four-cylinder Mazda MX-5 Miata each carry maximum-load ratings lower than 400 pounds. Go figure.


Source Wired

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The Deadliest Year on Record for Motorcycles

A Ferrari is comfortably out of budget for most of us. But adrenalin-inducing speed can be had with a "superbike" or "sportsbike."

Though these crotch rockets accounted for less than 10 percent of motorcycle registrations in 2005, they accounted for more than 25 percent of rider fatalities. A study released last week by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that rider deaths have more than doubled since 1997. Superbikes are partly to blame.

They are one of the fastest growing segments of the motorcycle market-with sales climbing 83 percent between 2000 and 2005. The horsepower wars between automakers are just as fierce in the motorcycle industry.

And like their car counterparts, bikes have simultaneously gotten more sophisticated suspension and braking systems along with electronics that make them safer and easier to handle.

Unfortunately, these advancements can impart a false sense of security. Critics of the Insurance Institute study claim that the increase in fatalities can be attributed to an influx of inexperienced older riders-often as not, babyboomers in midlife crisis. Also, states have grown lax about helmet laws.

Source Wired

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Tank Limo!

From the Fun with Government Surplus department comes Tank Limo, the toy-slash-business of some blokes with big ideas and a fleet of military equipment. It's a renovated field hustler fitted with smoked glass, a fridge, twin DVD players, back-up cameras and completely retrimmed interior. They're in process of installing 44 feet of remote neon tubes and a Jacuzzi, about which they say, "If you hear a rumor it's a 5 foot sheep dip with a pump and heat exchanger it might not be true." It can fit three crew and eight passengers (the tank, not the jacuzzi) and is perfect for weddings, proms or launching a coup on Bolivia. Your choice.


Source Jalopnik

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2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

It's been a favorite of Colombian drug lords, Saudi sultans and ladies who lunch alike. We're already seen its luxe Lexus cousin. And truth be told, we've also seen the new face of the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser. But now we know the company plans to officially reveal the new visage at the Australian International Motor Show in October.

The famed fatboy of SUVs is longer, taller, wider and more aggressive-looking than its placid predecessor. It also comes with a new suspension configuration dubbed KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System), a hydraulic setup that adjusts the stabilizer bars. Plus, there's a new descent control system called Crawl Control that controls the engine and brakes to maintain very low speeds with minimal spinning or locking of the wheels. That'll come in handy on the sands of the UAE hinterlands and the express ramp at Neiman Marcus.

Source Jalopnik

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More EU Car Buyers Looking at Fuel Cells

European car buyers are becoming more conscious of fuel cell technology as a practical option, but cost concerns remain a big hurdle. A new study by Harris Interactive Auto finds that 28 percent of European car owners are either "very likely" or "extremely likely" to consider fuel cell technology in their next car purchase. But that number drops to 22 percent when subjects are asked specifically to take cost into account. "As fuel cell technology evolves and production efficiencies drive prices to lower levels, there will be strong demand in the European market," said Scott Upham, senior VP of automotive research at Harris Interactive. Fuel economy is still the number one consideration for Europeans buying a new car.

Source Wired

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Charles Greenwood Shares His Electric Dream

Call me a sucker for mad-visionary types, but I think Charles Greenwood is a genius. He's one of the few people who lead me to believe that this strange species called the "car enthusiast" will thrive on long after the fossil fuels have run dry. Last month, Wired.com reported on this Seattle-based engineer's muscle-powered FM-4 HumanCar as part of a roundup of the fastest green cars on earth, and now he offers us an exclusive glimpse at HumanCar's next big thing. Dubbed Imagine and derived from the four-passenger FM-4, the car augments its rowing-machine-style propulsion system with a pair of DC electric motors. Juiced by a lithium-ion battery pack, the motors to keep things moving when the car's four primary engines — its occupants — need a breather. Greenwood has brought aboard designer Stephan Brand to shape the Imagine's body, which will feature a dual canopy and fender arcs swathed in photovoltaic cells, and pannier-syle body-side storage compartments.

Greenwood plans to have Imagine prototypes finished within the next few months. "They will literally burn rubber," he notes. We'll be there.


Source Wired

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2008 Mini Cooper D Clubman

The third in the trilogy of 2008 Cooper Clubman models, the Mini Cooper Clubman D is the oil-burner revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show. This Clubman's got a four-cylinder, common-rail turbodiesel, with max torque equaling that of the Cooper S's 177 lb-ft, 110 hp at 4,000 rpm and a top speed of 120 mph. But the real story here's the fuel economy, which BMW says will be a sippy-cup-like 57 miles per gallon.

Source Jalopnik

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2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

In September, sports car drivers who love extreme high performance and the feeling of sun and wind will have the best of both worlds when Porsche unleashes its ultimate open-air 911 sports car: the new 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.

Continuing the company's twenty-year tradition of pairing a classic soft top with extreme Porsche 911 Turbo performance, this 2+2 seater can reach speeds of nearly 200 mph and accelerate from a stop to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Starting at $136,500, the all-wheel-drive 911 Turbo Cabriolet is available with the same 3.6-liter, six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged boxer engine that delivers 480 horsepower in the 911 Turbo Coupe

The 911 Turbo Cabriolet uses a light, three-layer soft top that can be opened and closed at speeds of up to thirty miles an hour in just twenty seconds. The car includes hand-stitched leather, a high-performance Bose Surround Sound System stereo with settings ideal for top down driving, a wind buffeting system, Bi-Xenon headlights, 19-inch forged wheels with two-tone appearance and an entertainment and navigation system that seamlessly combines audio, navigation, and timing features.

The car features a race-bred braking system, an automatic rear spoiler for high-speed grip in the rear, and an array of directional and traction control systems.


Source Yenra

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Mercedes Quality Redux

Most of the irate are owners of models dating between 2000 and 2005, when Mercedes’ quality was at its worst level ever. Problems peaked in the 2002-2004 period, to be precise. Mercedes’ ranking in J. D. Power’s 2003 initial quality survey plummeted below even Chrysler.

But Mercedes was the most-improved automaker in the J.D. Power’s 2007 initial quality survey, which ranks problems after 90 days of ownership. Mercedes ranked fifth, with 111 problems per 100 cars. Porsche, by the way, was No. 1 this year, with only 91 problems per 100. Mercedes leap from 25th in 2006 to top tier in 2007 was unprecedented, says J.D. Power analyst Joe Ivers.

Now, here’s an even more riveting finding: Every vehicle line at Mercedes showed improvement this year. Even the seven-year-old C Class, which was riddled with defects, showed 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in 2007. And the S Class tied with the Audi A8 for best in class. “That’s quite an accomplishment,” says Ivers. “The new generation of vehicles is so much better. It looks as though Mercedes may be able to restore its traditional DNA of quality.”

I know — many car owners are too weary and too aggravated to give Mercedes another chance. But to be fair the quality scores are on the up. We visited Stuttgart to see just how management was tackling all those aggravating flaws — and the effort was impressive.

There’s no excuse for the quality collapse at Mercedes — which long ranked No. 1. But once it slips, quality takes time to fix — sometimes a whole car generation.

Source Businessweek

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Lutz on the Mount

Call General Motors car czar Bob Lutz skeptical about the likelihood that Robert Nardelli, the Former General Electric and Home Depot executive tapped as Chrysler’s new CEO, can get the carmaker humming again. Nardelli has a mixed track record. He did wonders for two major business units at GE. He also doubled revenue and boosted profits at Home Depot before leaving the company with customer service issues and a stagnant stock price. When asked about Nardelli while showing off the new Chevrolet HHR SS in Detroit yesterday, Lutz said, “The naïve belief on Wall Street that we’re a bunch of dunderheads and if you just get some GE guy to come in with fresh eyes, he will make the tough calls and turn it around … we’ll see.”

Lutz was less skeptical when Ford hired former Boeing Co. executive Alan Mulally as its CEO, but he was hardly effusive. Lutz’s point back then was that it’s tough for any executive, no matter how smart they are, to come from a business-to-business industry like selling jets to airlines and figure out what car buyers want. Nardelli does have experience with consuemrs at Home Depot. But his biggest successes at GE came selling locomotives to railroads and turbine engines to power utilities and other businesses.

Lutz has a point. Few, if any interlopers have parachuted into Detroit from other industries and succeeded. James Nance joined Packard in 1952 from appliance maker Hotpoint Inc. He couldn’t stop the now-dead luxury carmaker’s swoon. In the ‘90s, GM and Ford hired a slew of marketers from elsewhere—the most notorious being former and current Bausch and Lomb executive Ron Zarrella. None of the hires made an impact. Nardelli will definitely make his mark on Chrysler. Cerberus has wisely surrounded him with a slew of Chrysler veterans to give him advice. Like Lutz says, we’ll see if it works.

Source Businessweek

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Temporary Radiator Hose Fix

It's no fun standing on the side of the road watching smoke pour out of your car's radiator area. Before you call an expensive tow company or change into your walking shoes, there might be a way to get back on the road long enough to get home or to the shop for a real radiator repair.

After waiting for your car to cool off, open the hood and see if you can locate the source of the steam. If it's coming from a rubber radiator hose, you can probably put a quick fix on it to get you out of your predicament. Once you've located the hole, dry it completely. Now tear off a 2-3 inch piece of duct tape (if you don't have some on your duct tape cup holder you can buy it almost anywhere) and place it over the hole in the radiator hose. Starting at the center (just over the hole) press the tape firmly in place.

Now tear off a nice long piece and, starting about 2 inches above the smaller piece of tape, wrap it around and around the hose tightly and press it in place. Check your radiator fluid to be sure you still have some to get home on. If it's seriously low, you can add plain old water for now.

The Wrap-Up

* Let your car cool off!
* Find and dry the hole.
* Put a 2-3 inch piece of tape directly over the hole.
* Wrap the radiator hose thoroughly with more tape.
* Check and add fluid to the radiator if needed.
* Drive straight home or to the shop (whichever is closest)!

Remember:

* Never do cooling system maintenance or repairs on a hot car. Burns can be very serious!
* This is a temporary repair! Don't try to "make it a few days" relying on your duct tape, you'll be sorry.


Source About

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Bentley to aim for 'greener' limousines

Volkswagen's luxury car division Bentley wants to make its models more environmentally friendly and to edge closer to proposed EU limits, the financial daily Handelsblatt reported Friday, citing Bentley head Franz-Josef Paefgen.

"We are currently forming a view on the matter, for instance by talking to politicians in England," Paefgen told the newspaper in an interview.

"And when the view is complete, we will decide in spring 2008 what to do."

But he cautioned that nobody should expect the company to build a relatively small three-litre car.

Bentley's powerful models traditionally consume large amount of fuel, with the Coupe Continental GT guzzling an average of more than 17 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (14 miles per gallon).

The car emits around 396 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, far above a proposed EU regulation limiting CO2 emissions to 120 grams per kilometre by 2012.

Paefgen also wanted Bentley to reach annual unit sales of 10,000 vehicles for the first time this year, helped by an 18 percent gain in unit sales during the first six months of this year, the newspaper said.

Source Physorg

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Chrysler SUV Brake Problems

Chrysler Recalls 300,000 SUVs for Brake Problems.
Recalls seem to be more in vogue than usual for automakers these days.

Just a few hours after the news broke that Honda was recalling almost 200,000 Civics due to problems with wheel bearings, reports have surfaced that Chrysler is sallying forth with a massive recall of their own.

Almost 300,000 Chrysler SUVs including Jeep Cherokee, Commander, and Wrangler, as well as the Dodge Nitro are being recalled for potential problems with braking while driving uphill.

It seems that Chrysler has received about 20 complaints of vehicles not stopping immediately after the brakes were applied while coasting uphill. While coasting up a hill may not occur daily for many drivers, we tend to think that braking on any part of a hill is vital.

As with any recall, certainly one regarding a system as important as a vehicle’s brakes, we would recommend that effected owners have service preformed on the quick. Safe driving.

Source Windingroad

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Team McLaren has been handed a $100 million fine

Admitting Thursday that they had indeed broken FIA regulations with regard to possession of technical data belonging to longstanding Formula One rival Ferrari, Team McLaren Mercedes has been stripped of all championship points and been handed a $100 million fine.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council’s decision practically ensures that Ferrari will walk away with the constructor’s championship this season… a championship that was headed McLaren’s direction until now.

McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso (currently one and two respectively in the driver’s championship) will not be penalized, and may continue their quest for victory with four races to go.

After initially clearing McLaren of charges in July, the FIA reported that new evidence had surfaced (the details of which have not yet been made available) pointing to the guilt of the racing team.

Source Windingroad

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Jeep J8

Built off the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the Jeep J8 gets some frame reinforcements to allow for greater payloads (up to a max of 2,952 lb.) and newly engineered axles, brakes and a leaf-spring rear suspension system for "more demanding military and civilian government use." Because although the J8's stronger than the Wrangler Unlimited it's built on, it's not designed for front-line combat operations. Instead, the fully-armor capable Jeep J8's designed for duties ranging from
Source Jalopnik

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Peugeot 308 RC Z

The 308 RC Z concept is based on the garden variety 308, which allows it to share many bits with its pedestrian sibling and make a better business case for production. In order to reduce weight, however, the 308 RC Z also uses aluminum components extensively, as well as some carbon fiber body panels. The car's total poundage comes to 2,645 lbs. (including fuel), which shouldn't be too difficult for its 218-hp 1.6L turbo four-cylinder sourced from the 207 RC to haul around. Peugeot estimates 62 mph can be reached after 7 seconds of full-throttle fun, while the party will poop out around 146 mph.

While many of the debuts in Frankfurt garnered either a decisive positive or negative reaction, the Peugeot 308 RC Z Coupe Concept held the middle ground. The front end is almost a direct carryover from the 308 on which it's based, but we couldn't help but want a bit more individuality and a bit less gaping maw. From the side, all we can see is Karmann Ghia, along with John's earlier assertion that the roofline apes the Audi TT.

Something like the RC Z could come to production since it's essentially a re-bodied 308, and with a 218 HP 1.6-liter blown four pot, you won't hear any arguments from this side of the pond – regardless of the fact that it'll never come our way.

Source Autoblog

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Custom Russian Car Niva 4x4

This turkey (spotted by the eagle-eyed Seth L) is based on the teeny Lada Niva 4x4. Don't know the Niva? Imagine a Honda 600 Coupe crossbred with a Yugo. The Niva was Soviet Russia's attempt at a bar bones Subaru. Of course we're hoping our yellow friend here is based off the Cossack model. Also, nice roof rack/brush guard, dork. Enjoy!


Source Jalopnik

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Volkswagen Up

A new Smart-fighting concept car called the "Up!" Yes, that's an exclamation point in the name of the concept car, and no, we've no idea why it's there. While we know there's been much talk of a tie-up between Apple and V-Dub, we've no idea if this is the car folks have been talking about -- despite the vey Apple-like interior designs. What we do know is this concept's one of those "gonna be made" concept cars and it's set to go into production in two years with a fuel economy target of as close to 100 mpg as possible. Here's a better screen cap of "Das Smart."

Source Jalopnik

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Daihatsu Motor touts new fuel cell technology

Daihatsu Motor Co., a unit of the Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor, said Friday it has developed a new fuel cell technology that eliminates the need for platinum.

Until now, the precious metal has been an essential material in the electrode catalyst in conventional fuel cells for automobiles, said the company, which specialises in manufacturing small vehicles.

"This proprietary fuel cell technology provides numerous benefits, including resource conservation, low cost, high output, and safe and easy fuel handling," the company said in a statement.

"With the goal of helping to preserve the global environment, Daihatsu will accelerate further research and development of this technology," it said.

Japanese electronics and automakers have been active in development of fuel cell technology, which uses chemical agents, such as hydrogen and oxygen, to generate electricity with little impact on the environment.



Source Physorg

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All-electric KillaCycle tries to kill its maker

You may have heard about the all-electric "KillaCycle" - a 158MPH drag racing bike powered by a bank of 990 lithium-ion batteries that does 0-60 in .97 seconds. Well, the bike isn't shy about living up to its name - in a demo for reporters at Wired's NextFest, creator Bill Dube was doing some innocent burnouts when the rear tire hooked and fired him off like a shot...into a parked minivan. Dube appears to be okay - he was conscious and had feeling in all his fingers and toes -- but paramedics took him in for X-rays just to be sure. Here's hoping he recovers quickly - and lets us take that thing for a spin. Hit the read link to see it all go down on video. Video: Electric motorcycle inventor crashes at Wired NextFest



Source Engadget

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class Edition 10 anniversary edition

Ten years on from a rather inauspicious start, Mercedes-Benz has released an Edition 10 anniversary model for the A-Class. When the original Mercedes-Benz A-Class failed miserably in a double lane change test (rolling over at speeds that most cars handled with no problem) in the hands of some Swedish media, the company had to quickly recall the first few months production and retrofit a stability control system and some suspension and tire changes.

The A-Class is now an established part of the Mercedes lineup and the anniversary edition adds special 16" alloy wheels, a new grille and a louvered panoramic sunroof. The Edition 10 is also available in an exclusive mountain grey metallic finish. Another option that will be available is a service contract that covers all maintenance and repair on the car for 10 Euros a month.


Source Autoblog

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SSC Claims New Top Speed Record of 255 MPH

What’s the fastest production car available in the world today? While it’s tempting to spout one of the default answers (“Bugatti Veyron” or “Koenigsegg CCR”), those two are so very yesterday. Literally. That’s because earlier today, the folks over at Shelby Supercars (SSC) say their Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo reset the bar, bumping the record to 255.83 miles-per-hour.

According to the company, the 1183-horsepower American supercar made the top speed run on a closed two-lane stretch of Washington State public highway. The Ultimate Aero actually topped out at a staggering 257.11 mph, but the slightly slower return run of 254.55 mph (necessary to qualify for the title under Guinness World Records rules) dropped the average to the aforementioned 255.83. That’s nearly 12 mph faster than the official record (the Koenigsegg has been clocked at 242 mph), and even betters the Bugatti’s unofficial run of 253 mph.

Source Windingroad

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2008 Aston Martin DBS Super Coupe

This could be the Nürburgring. Ahead the tarmac rises, kinks left and enters a long, dark, green canopy and in an instant we're into it. "I call this section 'The Labyrinth,'" says the German-accented driver over the basso profundo rumble of the big V12 which is surging out and back athletically as we jink the 2008 Aston Martin DBS between corners.

Finally we barrel out of the Labyrinth's final bend and down the straight that follows, the V12 running all the way out to its redline. Then near silence: He's demonstrating the carbon-ceramic brakes, and if you listen carefully you can just hear me choking as I hang hard from my seatbelt.

This isn't the Nürburgring. It's the B-something in Warwickshire, northwest of London. We're not going to tell you which one exactly; it's too good. And although the driver is German and a racer, he is better known as the CEO of Aston Martin.

Dr. Ulrich Bez took the company from producing 800 cars when he joined in 2000 to 7,000 now and over 9,000 when the Rapide arrives in 2009. He also led Aston Martin to independence from Ford earlier this year and the car we're riding in, the DBS, is the first to be launched since.

You Saw It in Bond
He's an engaging character, Bez. The recording of our fairly committed tour of the Warwickshire countryside also features him peppering his technical explanations with sound effects, patting my hand as he checks to see if I'm OK after the brake test and essentially refusing to go anywhere until I've killed a bee that's buzzing around in the seatless rear of the Aston Martin DBS. Odd. Happy to race around the world's most dangerous circuit in the rain at the dead of night, but terrified of insects.

The Aston Martin DBS won't cause him any sleepless nights. Once a new car selling 500 each year would have made or broken Aston. No longer; the DBS will be the smallest seller in a six-model range, and half the first year's production has been sold in the U.K. alone. Being the wheels of the most popular Bond in years, particularly when — pop-out PPK excepted — Bond's newfound realism means there's little difference between this and the car Daniel Craig drove, hardly limits your sales prospects.

Success was never in doubt. Other than being one of the first to ride in the DBS, what we wanted to discover was how we should see it. According to Aston it "bridges the gap" between the DB9 and the racing DBR9. On paper it looks like Aston's take on the 911 GT3 or 430 Scuderia; it's 143 pounds lighter than a standard manual DB9 with its restyled, harder-edged carbon-fiber panels, carbon-ceramic brakes, stripped-out cabin and manual transmission. But in price (likely to be around $200,000), timing and power (up 13 percent to 510 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 420 pound-feet at 5,750 rpm), it could be seen as a Vanquish replacement. The way Bez sees it determines how it will drive.

More of Everything
Early DBSs suffered from a stiff, slightly awkward ride but this car finally seems to have it nailed; it manages to round off the worst of the harshness of these coarse, potholed roads while keeping the body in check. As Bez promised this is clearly not a hard-core, compromised, lightweight street racer; I could tolerate this ride all day.

But the DBS won't be a pushover; the traction is evidently mighty but the back end squirms under the hard acceleration. Bez is plainly a very skilled driver but even he fluffs a few changes, testament to the difficulty of managing a 5.9-liter 48-valve V12 through a six-speed manual box.

And what about the stuff we can't gauge from the passenger seat? "You will have a different sensation to the DB9," Bez promises, "but not in the sense of it being harder. It will feel more agile even if it is wider. It is more muscular but not without feel. You can take your big toe and feel the sensitivity in the brake, but it's not soft. The gearshift in a Porsche doesn't give you enough of a reaction, it's too soft. This is more rounded. The steering is good but we can get it better; it's not quite where the braking is yet."

So the DBS claims to offer more of everything — more power, more drama and more dynamism. And more importantly to Aston, more A-grade global exposure than an outfit this size could ever pay for, and more customers paying more money. But does it offer more enough to be twice the price of the Vantage? When we lever Bez out of the driver seat, we'll tell you.



Source Edmunds

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Volvo ReCharge Concept

It used to be that everyone needed a hybrid in the lineup. These days (especially now that everyone’s green card has been tipped at Frankfurt), everyone needs a plug-in hybrid. Volvo is no exception, and launched their vision of the future with the C30-based ReCharge concept.

The ReCharge follows the expected formula of pairing an electric motor, powered by lithium ion batteries, with a small, efficient engine. In this case, the engine is a 1.6-liter flex-fuel number, and the electric motor has been worked to afford a range of 100 kilometres before needing its conventional partner.

Looking plenty eco-chic in driven snow white with green wheels, Volvo made a point to display the concept plugged into the floor. Point taken Volvo… welcome to club plug-in.

Source Windingroad

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How to Buy a New Car

With so many new cars to choose from, how to buy a new car that's right for you?

It's easy to go on looks alone, of course, but down that road lies trouble (very much like picking a spouse on the basis of looks alone).

Or you can focus on the price of your new car, but if you do that to the exclusion of other considerations, such as comfort, safety or reliability, it's not likely you'll be happy with your "bargain."

So where to begin?
To make sure you buy a new car that fits your needs, start by answering these 10 questions:

1. Do I prefer a domestic or an import brand? Does it matter?
2. Do I need (or just want) a large new car, a medium-sized new car -- or a small one?
3. Do I need (or just want) a vehicle with rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or some sort of all-wheel-drive/4x4 system?
4. Do I prefer a soft ride, a firm, "sporty" ride -- or something in-between?
5. How important is power/performance? Do I need (or just want) a new car that can do 150 mph?
6. Do I need (or just want) a vehicle that can carry cargo? How much?
7. What kind of gas mileage is acceptable -- and what's not? Is my personal "tipping point" at least 28 mpg -- or is 16 mpg OK if the car otherwise meets my needs?
8. How about safety? Are crash-test scores very important? The presence (or absence) of features like side-curtain air bags, stability control and brake assist?
9. What level of warranty coverage meets my expectations? Is three years/36,000 miles enough? Or is the minimum five years/50,000 miles?
10. Is resale/trade-in value a big consideration? Some brands hold their value much better than others.

Your answers to the above will automatically exclude a number of makes/models, narrowing your pool of possible candidates considerably. Now the biggest question:

11. How much do you want to spend?

Never, ever plan to buy a new car without thoroughly figuring out beforehand the maximum amount of money you're comfortable spending -- and stick to it. This will keep you on budget and help you dodge the "low monthly payment" shuck and jive that often gets unsuspecting new car buyers in way over their heads. Be sure to include everything in the bottom line, too. That means finance charges, interest, taxes, insurance, everything you will need to spend to own and drive the car.

Top 20 Selling Cars

Model Overview	Get a Quote
Toyota Camry	Price Quote
Honda Accord	Price Quote
Toyota Corolla	Price Quote
Honda Civic	Price Quote
Nissan Altima	Price Quote
Chevrolet Impala	Price Quote
Toyota Prius	Price Quote
Chevrolet Cobalt	Price Quote
Hyundai Sonata	Price Quote
Ford Focus	Price Quote
Pontiac G6	Price Quote
Mazda3	Price Quote
BMW 3-Series	Price Quote
Ford Mustang	Price Quote
Nissan Sentra	Price Quote
Ford Fusion	Price Quote
Chrysler 300	Price Quote
Chevrolet Malibu	Price Quote
Buick Lucerne	Price Quote
Toyota Yaris	Price Quote

Sales data shown is of top 20 selling cars and trucks as compiled by Autodata Corporation.Having settled on a figure you can further narrow down the potential new cars on your list to a manageable half dozen or so.

Now it's time to actually go look at each vehicle left on your list. Sit in it, see how the controls feel and, ideally, take each out for an extended test drive. It is strongly recommended that you insist on a test drive of at least an hour or two before you even begin to talk about buying a new car. Otherwise, you're buying a pig in a poke that could turn out to have seats that are too hard, an engine that's too noisy, a transmission that's hard for you to shift smoothly, blind spots that make changing lanes hazardous -- any number of things you can't discover without actually trying the new car out.

Bring a notepad with you and jot down the things you like about the vehicle -- and those you don't -- for future reference.

Most dealers will accommodate a buyer's request for a test drive. It's a reasonable request given you are considering a purchase that could amount to tens of thousands of dollars. If the dealer refuses to allow a test drive, it's smart to just pencil that vehicle off your list and move on to the next candidate. And be sure to take the test drive without a salesman riding with you.

Once you've test driven all the candidates, you'll have a much better idea which of them might be "right" new car for you. Usually, you'll be able to narrow down the choice to just one or two specific models that has the right combination of features/equipment, style and "feel" that works for you.

The rest is easy.

Having settled on one or two "possibles," you can get down to the nitty gritty of researching new car prices (remember to haggle up from dealer invoice, not down from MSRP "window sticker") and negotiating the best deal when you buy a new car. One make/model may be the focus of a very compelling rebate/incentive/financing deal. Or perhaps you can get more options/features in one new car model for about the same price as the other. Or maybe you just happen to like the way one of them looks a little bit more than the other (all else being more or less equal).

Having settled on one or two "possibles," you can get down to the nitty gritty of researching new car prices (remember to haggle up from dealer invoice, not down from MSRP "window sticker") and negotiating the best deal when you buy a new car. One make/model may be the focus of a very compelling rebate/incentive/financing deal. Or perhaps you can get more options/features in one new car model for about the same price as the other. Or maybe you just happen to like the way one of them looks a little bit more than the other (all else being more or less equal).

But whichever make/model you end up driving home, you're bound to buy a new car that's right for you.

And that's the very definition of successful new car shopping, whether you're spending $15,000 or $50,000.

Source Aol

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Mitsubishi Oz on the skids

Mitsubishi is facing an uphill battle in Australia and is facing the shutdown of its local production for good. Falling demand for large cars, a lack of a suitable export program and an uninspiring lineup have left Mitsubishi on the brink of extinction Down Under. The situation is so bad that auditors have described the situation as containing "significant uncertainty" after finding a net current asset deficiency of AUD$168 million in the financials for the small Aussie outcrop.

Mitsubishi only manufactures one model in Australia, the 380 sedan, which is basically a rebadged version of the American Galant. Most businesses with liabilities exceeding their assets would have to call it a day, sell whatever remaining assets are available, and pay off its creditors. However, Mitsubishi's Australian chief executive Robert McEniry has a confident outlook on the situation and has indicated that Mitsubishi will continue producing cars locally.

Source Autoblog

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Audi Q7 hybrid and diesels to arrive next year

Audi's first diesel and hybrid powertrains in the US will be launched in the Q7 next year. The power units will likely trickle down to other vehicles in Audi's range, but they're not yet offering up any details on how prolific this hardware will be. Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche have been working collaboratively to develop the parallel hybrid system, which makes the choice of the Q7 logical, as all three brands share a flavor of the architecture. Hybrid Q7s will be able to power around on the electric motor up to 31 mph, and the system will also shut down the engine during cruise conditions at speeds up to 75 mph. The total weight of the system adds 300 pounds, most of which is in the 288-volt NiMH battery pack.

The modular hybrid system will be easy to integrate with different powertrains once Audi starts propagating the system throughout the rest of their models, and terming it "modular" denotes that the basic pieces will be very adaptable. When Porsche and Volkswagen get their versions of the hybrid gear, we'd expect the engines to differ from the Q7's 3.6 liter 280 horsepower unit. Audi's claiming a 23 percent mileage improvement versus the conventional Q-ship. As for the oil burner, it will be a 3-liter V6 that is 50-state compliant while quietly thumping out 230 horsepower and 400 ft-lb of torque. Diesel torque delivery can be often be described as "electric-motor like," but we wonder if the Hybrid, with its actual electric motors, will laugh at the diesel's effort as it gets the hole shot.

Source Autoblog

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2008 Lamborghini Reventon

Clearly a Lamborghini, but nothing quite like it. A super car without equals: the Lamborghini Reventón is a road vehicle with an extreme specification and, at the same time, a limited edition masterpiece – a coherent style, angular with sharp lines, inspired by the very latest aeronautics.With just 20 produced, each 1 Million Euro (without taxes) Lamborghini Reventón is a symbol of extreme exclusivity, yet still offering the extraordinary performance that makes the Reventón so unrivalled: under the completely autonomous design, the Reventón possesses the entire technical and dynamic competence of the twelve cylinder Lamborghini.

Lamborghini prides itself on being the extraordinary manufacturer of extreme super sports cars without compromise. Sensuality and provocation characterise every Lamborghini, with an aggressively innovative style. “However, the Reventón is the most extreme of all, a true automotive superlative. Our designers at the Lamborghini Style Centre took the technical base of the Murciélago LP640 and compressed and intensified its DNA, its genetic code,” affirms Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

Born in Sant’Agata Bolognese

The Lamborghini Reventón has been entirely designed in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the original birthplace of the Lamborghini and the native home of every super car born under the sign of the bull. The design drawn up in Lamborghini’s Centro Stile (Style Centre) is fine-tuned in close collaboration with the Lamborghini Research and Development Department. Thus, the Reventón is not only “haute couture” but it also stands out for its elevated dynamism whilst being entirely suitable for every day use.

The Lamborghini Reventón is not destined to remain a one-off. A total of 20 Lamborghini friends and collectors will be able to own this extraordinary car and, naturally, enjoy the incomparable pleasure of driving it.

The name Reventón has been chosen according to Lamborghini tradition. Reventón was a fighting bull, owned by the Don Rodriguez family. It is included in the list of the most famous bulls ever and is known for killing the famed bullfighter Felix Guzman in 1943.

Inspired by the fastest airplanes

The present day Lamborghini models are distinguished by the clear language of their shape. The coherent proportions of the Murciélago and Gallardo highlight their power and dynamism. Sharp edges, precise lines and clean surfaces: these are ingredients of a style reduced to the essential. Each element is created exactly according to its function; ornaments and decorations are totally foreign to a Lamborghini.

With the Reventón the Centro Stile designers have coherently developed this philosophy, inspired by another sphere where speed and dynamism reign absolute: modern aeronautics, responsible for the fastest and most agile airplanes in the world. This has created an extremely precise, technically striking style with a new vitality: interrupted lines and contorted surfaces create a fascinating play of light, giving the car incredible movement.

Made of carbon fibre and precision

Although it is based on the extraordinarily successful Murciélago LP640, the exterior design of the Reventón is completely new. Just like the base model, the exterior is made of CFC, a composite carbon fibre material, which is as stable as it is light. The exterior components are glued and fixed to the body comprised of CFC and steel.

The front is characterised by the acute angle of the central ‘arrow’ and by the powerful forward-facing air intakes. Although they do not supply air directly to the turbine like an airplane, bearing in mind the 650 hp, an abundant volume of air is necessary to cool the carbon brake disks and the six cylinder callipers.

Characterised by coherent functions

Naturally, both doors on the Reventón open upwards – since the legendary Countach this has also been a symbol of the V12 Lamborghini product line. With their asymmetric configuration, the large air intakes below the doors provide an example of the extreme coherence with which a Lamborghini fulfils its function: on the driver’s side it is large to increase the flow of oil to the radiator. On the passenger’s side of the vehicle, the air intake is flat because in this case, it only has to ensure the flow below the floor. The aerodynamically optimised flat floor structure terminates at the rear with a diffuser featuring an accentuated shape. This guarantees excellent road grip and stability even at 340 km per hour.

In spite of the extreme and innovative language of its shape, the Reventón not only maintains all the strong features of the Murciélago LP640, but also offers further amelioration in terms of aerodynamics, the important engine cooling system, the air intake system and brakes. The airflow and the section of the variable geometry air intakes of the engine and the rear spoiler (also adjustable) have been modified.

Owners of the 20 examples will be able to test the performance of his or her Lamborghini in person.

Perfected to the ultimate detail

The engine hood made of glass laminate with open ventilation slits offers a glimpse of the beating heart of the twelve cylinders of the super car. The glass also features the marked arrow angle that characterises the design from the front to the rear spoiler. The Lamborghini designers’ love for detail is beautifully illustrated by the fuel tank lid: a small mechanical work of art, achieved by milling a solid aluminium block.

The combination lights transform the incisiveness of the design into light: the front features the most modern light-emitting diodes alongside Bi-Xenon headlights. Seven LEDs ensure continuous daylight while there are a further nine diodes for the indicator and hazard lights. Another technical innovation is found in the rear light LEDs. Because of the high temperature in the rear low part of the car, special heatproof LEDs are used for the indicator and hazard lights, stoplights and rear lights with a triple arrow optical effect.

A new body colour

Naturally, such a refined language of shape also demands an extraordinary colour. For the 20 examples of the Reventón, the designers from Sant’Agata Bolognese have created a totally new hue: Reventón, a mid opaque green/grey without the usual shine. However, thanks to the metallic particles, in the daylight this colour tone features surprising depth.

Opaque and brilliant colours for the wheel rims
This play of opaque and lustre is also featured on the wheel rims, especially created for the Reventón. Opaque carbon fins are screwed onto the black aluminium spokes, not only creating a visual effect with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, but a turbine effect also ensures optimum cooling for the powerful ceramic brake disks.

TFT display similar to an airplane

The same innovative force applied to the exterior design characterises the cockpit of the Reventón. Designed and created using Alcantara, carbon, aluminium and leather that comply with the top quality standards, the interior is inspired by the next generation cockpits: just like in modern airplanes, the instruments comprise three TFT liquid crystal displays with innovative display modes. At the touch of a button, the driver can choose from two vehicle information display modes. The instruments are housed in a structure milled from a solid aluminium block, protected by a carbon fibre casing.

The G-Force-Meter is also completely new: this display shows the dynamic drive forces, longitudinal acceleration during acceleration and braking, as well as transversal acceleration around bends. These forces are represented by the movement of an indicator on a graduated 3D grid depending on the direction and intensity of the acceleration. A similar instrument can be found in the airplanes. Formula One teams also use a similar device to analyse dynamic forces.

Customisable instruments

The instrument on the left of the speedometer associates the number of revolutions in the form of a luminous column with the display of the selected gear. Finally, every Reventón is equipped with a robotised e.gear controlled by two small levers under the steering wheel.

By simply pressing a button, the driver can switch to the second, quasi-analogical display, where the classic circular instruments, speedometer and engine speed indicator are configured in an equally innovative way and transformed into luminous pilot lamps with varying colours. The G-Force-Meter naturally remains at the centre in this display mode.

Electronic system developed entirely by Lamborghini

All this is possible thanks to the fact that the entire electronic platform of the Reventón, together with all the control devices, has been autonomously developed by the Lamborghini experts.

The same process for integrating the electronic displays in the car was applied to the Lamborghini Engineering Department.

From the conception of the very first radical ideas, the entire Reventón has been developed in Sant’Agata Bolognese thanks to tight teams of remarkably creative experts. An extremely refined and efficient process was employed: CAD design and development, creation of the prototype in the Prototype Department, all carried out under the constant supervision of the Research and Development Department’s technicians and testers.

Atelier of creativity and high efficiency

Inaugurated in 2004, the Centro Stile is dedicated to design and characterised by a high degree of efficiency: an “atelier” of creators, designers and prototype constructors, who encapsulate the Lamborghini culture and spirit by using their remarkable skills to create aesthetic innovation.

The Centro Stile is located in a 2,900 square two-storey building. The large pavilion houses two test floors and related production and analysis equipment, while other rooms are set aside for the most advanced computerised workstations for designers and a style-model construction workshop. The Centro Stile is also closely linked to the nearby Engineering Department: the direct line between the Lamborghini development departments guarantees that ideas rapidly become reality.

Creativity and production under the same roof

The Lamborghini Reventón is a practical illustration of the streamlined functionality and efficiency characterising the Centro Stile: it took less than a year to progress from the first ideas to the finished car. The complete design process from the first sketches on paper, to three dimensional computer models with 1:10 or 1:4 scale, right up to the real size prototype is organised around streamlined, fast, efficient work groups. Thanks to the Centro Stile, for the first time in its history, Lamborghini is now able to create its own style philosophy in-house without having to rely on any external collaboration.

The 20 units will be manufactured in Sant’Agata, using a production process characterised by artisan perfection and rigorous quality standards.

Source Drive-Line

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