Photo: Jean-Paul Pelissier / ReutersFernando Alonso formula one reflection in the helmet of a fireman during a free practice session.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
2008 Subaru Tribeca
I’m sure that when you see this car your first words will be: ”It looks pretty good!”. And you will be right because the car you are looking on is 2008 Subaru Tribeca. This car can become your best friend. One good new detail of 2008 Subaru Tribeca is it’s front part. It is more aerodynamic.
Also Subaru Tribeca 2008 has upgraded engine: B9 3.0 V that consists of 6 cylinder. As conclusion I can say that this car has characteristics that will suite most drivers.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Jaguar C-XF wins Production Preview concept award
At their sixth annual concept car of the year awards last week, South East Automotive Media Organization (SEAMO) recognized the Jaguar C-XF as the best Production Preview vehicle among the several dozen concepts that debuted during the previous year. Concepts were lumped into several categories, including general concepts, trucks, specialty and vehicles that give a look at a specific upcoming model.
The C-XF is a thinly disguised version of the XF replacement for the current S-Type, which is expected to be shown in production form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The XF will debut a whole new look for Jaguar, dropping the more traditional styling of the S-Type, X-Type and XJ.
Other winners at the awards included the Chevy Volt which was voted the best specialty concept and most significant, while the Holden Efijy was was recognized in the general concept car category.
The C-XF is a thinly disguised version of the XF replacement for the current S-Type, which is expected to be shown in production form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The XF will debut a whole new look for Jaguar, dropping the more traditional styling of the S-Type, X-Type and XJ.
Other winners at the awards included the Chevy Volt which was voted the best specialty concept and most significant, while the Holden Efijy was was recognized in the general concept car category.
Source: Ford
2008 Porsche 911 GT2 spotted Stateside
Porsche's über 911, the 2008 GT2, has been spotted by spy photographers undergoing testing ahead of its launch at September's Frankfurt Auto Show, and this time on U.S. soil. The near-complete test mule was totally undisguised and has revealed important clues as to what the final car will look like.
A key difference of the GT2 over the lesser Turbo is the enlarged front air-intake, new lower lip and cooling vents positioned in the rear bumper. The oversized rear wing is probably only there for testing purposes and will likely be toned down for the production version.
Powering the coupe is a worked version of the 911 Turbo's twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six, sending around 520hp to the rear wheels. Expect a top speed in excess of 200mph and acceleration times for the 0 to 60mph sprint in less than 3.7 seconds.
To improve performance further, engineers have removed the air-conditioner and sound deadening to save weight, and Motor Trend reports that buyers will be able to opt for a roll-cage, one-piece racing seats and a fire extinguisher at no extra charge. You'd expect some extras thrown in considering that buyers will have to fork up close to $150,000 for the performance coupe.
A key difference of the GT2 over the lesser Turbo is the enlarged front air-intake, new lower lip and cooling vents positioned in the rear bumper. The oversized rear wing is probably only there for testing purposes and will likely be toned down for the production version.
Powering the coupe is a worked version of the 911 Turbo's twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six, sending around 520hp to the rear wheels. Expect a top speed in excess of 200mph and acceleration times for the 0 to 60mph sprint in less than 3.7 seconds.
To improve performance further, engineers have removed the air-conditioner and sound deadening to save weight, and Motor Trend reports that buyers will be able to opt for a roll-cage, one-piece racing seats and a fire extinguisher at no extra charge. You'd expect some extras thrown in considering that buyers will have to fork up close to $150,000 for the performance coupe.
Source: autoblog.com
Monday, June 25, 2007
2007 Saturn Outlook, First Impressions
By coincidence it turned out Alex and I were both scheduled to spend some time with a new Saturn Outlook at about the same time. Alex is working on a full review, so I'll try and give a more succinct take for a change. The Outlook is the diametrical opposite of the original Saturn S-Series weighing in at 5,000 lbs in all-wheel drive form. The new full-size crossover shares it's full-sized Lambda platform with with the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave.
Each one has it's own unique look and the Saturn has particularly attractive proportions. In photos it looks much smaller than it is, having the style of mid-sized station wagon. If the Outlook body was scaled down to fit on the mid-sized Aura platform it would make an excellent complement to the sedan. It's only when you walk up to the Outlook and it's siblings that you begin to realize that it's within an inch or two of the Tahoe/Yukon in all major dimensions.
After spending a week with the Aura, stepping up to the Outlook was a bit of a shock. This thing is huge. While the Aura is fairly low slung, you sit up high in the Outlook. The Aura seat wraps around and holds you snugly in place while the Outlook seats are broad and flat. The leather covering the seats does feel good but if you were to corner aggressively you would be looking for something to brace yourself against. Fortunately this kind of behavior probably won't be an issue very often in this high riding crossover.
The interior is easy on the eye and controls fall easily to hand. There are plenty of storage spaces including a good sized bin in the middle of the dash above the center stack. The materials all look high quality, but like the Escape hybrid, only the surfaces you regularly touch such as the armrests are padded. Other surfaces like the dashboard are hard plastic, although they are textured. As with the Escape, it's there if you look for it, but since you don't commonly touch those surfaces it's a cost saver that doesn't have much real negative impact. Another contrast to the Aura is the too-skinny steering wheel although it's not really out of place in this type of vehicle.
Out back behind the third row, there is an extra plastic storage bin under the floor for stashing items you want to keep out of view, or wet towels and bathing suits after a day at the pool or beach. On the left side of the cargo area there was an ill-fitting panel that refused to stay in place throughout the test. The test unit was equipped with the convenience package that includes a power liftgate that also behaved erratically. It often took several presses of the button on the key fob to get the gate to open or close.
The riders in the back two rows get to take advantage of a rear seat DVD entertainment system. Since my twelve-year-old son will probably never get to experience a real drive-in theater, he popped up a bowl of popcorn, put in Little Miss Sunshine, climbed into the back row with the wireless headphones that are included and had a driveway drive-in experience. Another nice entertainment feature is audio/video inputs at the back of the center console that allow you plug in other devices like a video iPod.
As someone who doesn't particularly like trucks, driving the Outlook is not my preferred mode of transportation. It weighs two and a half tons and it feels like it. The ride quality from the four wheel independent suspension and stiff body is definitely more carlike than traditional body-on-frame trucks and it absorbs bumps without creaking or floating around but the steering feels kind of dead. Compared to driving either the Aura or the Escape hybrid the Outlook feels as large and heavy as it is.
All that weight has another price, a thirst for gasoline. If there is any vehicle in the GM lineup that needs the new two-mode hybrid system more than the Tahoe, it's the Outlook and it's siblings. In a week of mixed driving I racked up 420 miles and the truck drank gasoline at the rate of 16.9mpg. The hybrid drivetrain would be a good complement to the smooth, high revving 3.6 V-6 and would help to get the mileage up into the low twenties.
At a price of $39,105 as tested, the Outlook isn't cheap but it's good looking transport for up to eight. Having said that, the new Hyundai Veracruz is similarly powered with at least 600 lbs less mass to haul around, and a price tag that starts at just over $27,000. And Hyundai has an amazing warranty and great quality ratings. If you're looking for a crossover with three rows of seats there is certainly no shortage of options to choose from and plenty more coming in the next year or two.
Each one has it's own unique look and the Saturn has particularly attractive proportions. In photos it looks much smaller than it is, having the style of mid-sized station wagon. If the Outlook body was scaled down to fit on the mid-sized Aura platform it would make an excellent complement to the sedan. It's only when you walk up to the Outlook and it's siblings that you begin to realize that it's within an inch or two of the Tahoe/Yukon in all major dimensions.
After spending a week with the Aura, stepping up to the Outlook was a bit of a shock. This thing is huge. While the Aura is fairly low slung, you sit up high in the Outlook. The Aura seat wraps around and holds you snugly in place while the Outlook seats are broad and flat. The leather covering the seats does feel good but if you were to corner aggressively you would be looking for something to brace yourself against. Fortunately this kind of behavior probably won't be an issue very often in this high riding crossover.
The interior is easy on the eye and controls fall easily to hand. There are plenty of storage spaces including a good sized bin in the middle of the dash above the center stack. The materials all look high quality, but like the Escape hybrid, only the surfaces you regularly touch such as the armrests are padded. Other surfaces like the dashboard are hard plastic, although they are textured. As with the Escape, it's there if you look for it, but since you don't commonly touch those surfaces it's a cost saver that doesn't have much real negative impact. Another contrast to the Aura is the too-skinny steering wheel although it's not really out of place in this type of vehicle.
Out back behind the third row, there is an extra plastic storage bin under the floor for stashing items you want to keep out of view, or wet towels and bathing suits after a day at the pool or beach. On the left side of the cargo area there was an ill-fitting panel that refused to stay in place throughout the test. The test unit was equipped with the convenience package that includes a power liftgate that also behaved erratically. It often took several presses of the button on the key fob to get the gate to open or close.
The riders in the back two rows get to take advantage of a rear seat DVD entertainment system. Since my twelve-year-old son will probably never get to experience a real drive-in theater, he popped up a bowl of popcorn, put in Little Miss Sunshine, climbed into the back row with the wireless headphones that are included and had a driveway drive-in experience. Another nice entertainment feature is audio/video inputs at the back of the center console that allow you plug in other devices like a video iPod.
As someone who doesn't particularly like trucks, driving the Outlook is not my preferred mode of transportation. It weighs two and a half tons and it feels like it. The ride quality from the four wheel independent suspension and stiff body is definitely more carlike than traditional body-on-frame trucks and it absorbs bumps without creaking or floating around but the steering feels kind of dead. Compared to driving either the Aura or the Escape hybrid the Outlook feels as large and heavy as it is.
All that weight has another price, a thirst for gasoline. If there is any vehicle in the GM lineup that needs the new two-mode hybrid system more than the Tahoe, it's the Outlook and it's siblings. In a week of mixed driving I racked up 420 miles and the truck drank gasoline at the rate of 16.9mpg. The hybrid drivetrain would be a good complement to the smooth, high revving 3.6 V-6 and would help to get the mileage up into the low twenties.
At a price of $39,105 as tested, the Outlook isn't cheap but it's good looking transport for up to eight. Having said that, the new Hyundai Veracruz is similarly powered with at least 600 lbs less mass to haul around, and a price tag that starts at just over $27,000. And Hyundai has an amazing warranty and great quality ratings. If you're looking for a crossover with three rows of seats there is certainly no shortage of options to choose from and plenty more coming in the next year or two.
Source: autoblog.com
Hydrogen as fuel for our vehicles
The following information on hydrogen is from the US Department of Energy.
Hydrogen is the simplest element known to man. Each atom of hydrogen has only one proton. It is also the most plentiful gas in the universe. Stars are made primarily of hydrogen.
Since hydrogen doesn't exist on earth as a gas, we must separate it from other elements. We can separate hydrogen atoms from water, biomass, or natural gas molecules. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam reforming and electrolysis (water splitting). Scientists have even discovered that some algae and bacteria give off hydrogen.
HYDROGEN USE IN VEHICLES
There are currently about 200 hydrogen-fueled vehicles in the United States – mostly in California. Most of these vehicles are buses and automobiles powered by electric motors. They store hydrogen gas or liquid on board and convert the hydrogen into electricity for the motor using a fuel cell. Only a few of these vehicles burn the hydrogen directly (producing almost no pollution).
Hydrogen vehicles are starting to move from the laboratory to the road. One California family has recently leased a hydrogen car for personal use. The U.S. postal service, a package delivery company, a few Florida Park rangers, and a few private utility companies are also using hydrogen vehicles. It will probably be at least 10 years, though, before you can walk into your local car dealer and drive away in an affordable hydrogen-powered car.
Even then, you will need a place to refuel your hydrogen car. Currently, there are about 25 hydrogen refueling stations nationwide. This is the so-called “chicken and egg” problem that hydrogen developers are working hard to solve. Namely: who will buy hydrogen cars if there are no refueling stations? And who will pay to build a refueling station if there are no cars and customers?
One possible solution is to eliminate refueling stations entirely. Automobile manufacturers have already designed a refrigerator-sized hydrogen generator for your garage that works off electricity. Consumers would simply refill their cars with hydrogen each night while it is parked.
THE FUTURE OF HYDROGEN
Hydrogen has great potential as an environmentally clean energy fuel and as a way to reduce reliance on imported energy sources. Before hydrogen can play a bigger energy role and become a widely used alternative to gasoline, many new facilities and systems must be built. We will need facilities to make hydrogen, store it, and move it. We will need economical fuel cells. And consumers will need the technology and the education to safely use it.
The goal of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Program is for hydrogen to produce ten percent of our energy by the year 2030. Hydrogen could provide clean, renewable energy for the future.
Source: instantriverside.com
Sunday, June 24, 2007
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
After owning six Camry sedans over the last two decades, Glenn is suddenly getting interested in the new Honda Accord coming out this autumn, and he's not alone. While
As a result,
"It's a movement, not a program," explained Jack Hollis, the corporate manager with Toyota's U.S. sales subsidiary who was put in charge of developing EM2, or Everything Matters Exponentially. "The company is trying to address the entire sales and service experience (because) if we really want to keep growing, we have to do it by increasing customer loyalty."
The program or, if you prefer, movement, comes at a critical time.
But even as the sales number climb, there are problems that could backfire on the company, starting with a variety of well-publicized recalls that resulted in more cars being called back for service last year than
Perhaps more significant, Toyota has slipped not only in these "things-gone-wrong" surveys, but also in studies measuring "things-gone-right," the things a maker can do to surprise and delight a customer. In the latest Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, from the California research firm, AutoPacific Inc., which measures things both wrong and right, didn't even measure up to industry average, falling behind not only TGW leaders like Honda and Cadillac, but brands such as Volkswagen, Land Rover and Hummer, which have traditionally suffered from weak quality.
Source: thecarconnection.com
Saturday, June 23, 2007
New Alfa Romeo 159 TI
In
In the cabin you can see jacketed of leather helm and handle of transmission, seats with heating, aluminium pedals and new design of panel.
You can choose between 3 engine variants: 2 fuel JTS with v 2.2 and v 2.3 and the diesel one v 2.4 JTDM. You can also select between the transmissions: mechanic and automatic QTRONIC.
Alfa Romeo 159 TI will be in sedan and coupe variants. Depends on assembly price will be from 46 700 to 63 500 USD.
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