Saturday, May 10, 2008

2008 Jaguar XKR

2008 Jaguar XKR

The Jaguar XKRs already powerful sporting styling cues an enhanced front bumper, bonnet louvres and aluminium-finish grilles and side power vents will remain and exclusive Celestial Black exterior paint and 20-inch polished Cremona five-spoke alloy wheels add to the overall presence.

The Jaguar XKRs interior represents a truly sophisticated yet driver-focussed environment 2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Gallery: 2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio
thanks to class-leading ergonomics, user-friendly in-car technology and simple, clear information displays in the instrument panel and main dashboard area.

Jaguar is adding even more appeal to the must have XKR with the unveiling of the all-new special edition Portfolio model. The 4.2-litre supercharged sports car will be sold worldwide and each one will feature notable additions to the already strong specification of the XKR, which is
capable of hitting an electronically controlled top speed of 155mph and can accelerate to 60mph in just 4.9 seconds (5.0 seconds for the convertible).

The Jaguar XKR Portfolio will combine this acclaimed design and performance with Jaguars engineering and craftsmanship skills to take the XKR to an even higher level. Every Jaguar XKR benefits from its class-leading, advanced aluminium construction, which ensures that its power is matched by a dynamic, lightweight chassis that handles supremely, rides exceptionally well and stops with surefooted
reassurance time after time.

Now, to offer even greater braking ability, Jaguars Special Vehicles team has worked alongside leading brake manufacturer Alcon to create the largest, most powerful brakes a production Jaguar has ever carried. After extensive testing by experts at Jaguars specialist engineering centre (which is based next to the legendary Nurburgring race circuit in Germany), the new XKR Portfolio braking system was conceived.

400mm front brake discs an increase of 45mm over the standard XKR are retarded by powerful six-piston callipers, while at the rear four-piston calipers operate on 350mm discs.
Innovative race-developed crescent-shaped grooves cut into the surface of the discs prevent a build-up of deposits on the brake pads and improve braking performance under extreme use.

By allowing the heat created within the system to dissipate quickly and efficiently the XKR Portfolio brakes produce fade-free performance whilst maintaining Jaguar renowned blend of refinement and stopping power. Unique R branding on the front brake calipers reveals the six-piston set-up beneath.

Surrounding the Jaguar XKR Portfolios brakes are polished 20-inch five-spoke Cremona wheels, while behind the front wheels sit all-new Power Vents which are hewn from polished aluminium and incorporate the indicator side repeater and Jaguar signature ingot. An exclusive Celestial Black exterior paint will also serve to differentiate the XKR Portfolio edition. (UK and Switzerland have a Liquid Silver paint option as well.)

A host of new additions to the interior further the luxurious look and feel of the XKR Portfolio. A unique, and quite beautiful, Engine-Spun aluminium veneer is standard on the Portfolio, while customers will also have the option of an elegant Satin American Walnut veneer. A new alloy and leather gearshift selector, soft-grab door handles, contrast stitching throughout the cabin, leather-edged mats with a Jaguar logo and distinctive Portfolio treadplates on the doorsills complete the effect.

The Jaguar XKR Portfolio also marks another first for Jaguar: the first production example of its new partnership with renowned audio entertainment specialists Bowers&Wilkins. This world-leading loudspeaker manufacturer worked alongside Jaguar to create a stunning speaker system for the recent C-XF concept car, but the XKR Portfolio is the first production Jaguar to benefit from the relationship.

Taking Jaguars 525W Premium Audio system with Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound as a starting point, Bowers&Wilkins have crafted a signature speaker system specifically for the XKRs cabin. High-output, low-distortion Kevlar mid-range speakers and specially designed aluminium-dome tweeters deliver superb mid-range and extended high-frequency responses.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

2008 Nissan Murano Review

Nissan Murano

The new version, because the United Kingdom in October 2008, but already available in the USA, a new body which maintains a bit arty who have seen the original iteration distinctive. A new front end includes a revised grille, headlights and bonnet, with more pronounced wheel arches. At the rear, there is a new form of rear LED lamps and large tail. The interior has also been a beauty.

Mechanically, have been a number of other changes, including revisions to 3.5 liter V6 that have added 35bhp, taking the power output to 265bhp, and the couple was also brought to 248lb-ft. The engine is mated to a second generation of Nissan Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox.

A niche product, the Murano is the kind of car that urban 4x4 drivers to buy: high-riding, typically stylish and comfortable, this is never to get muddy if parked at the likes of Glyndebourne or overflow parking at Twickenham.

And there is also something of a contradiction at the heart of new Nissan Murano: its appeal will seem quite fashionable, design metropolitan conscious buyers, but that is exactly the kind of public baulks to be seen as destroyers of the planet, to 3.5-liter V6 is likely to be beyond the pale for them.

There is also a warning to our review: we tested an early US-spec car, therefore likely to be some adjustments made before his arrival in the UK in the autumn of 2008.

The price is yet to be confirmed, but he believes that there will be a small step of the premium charged £30190 for the last iteration.

The former Murano generally not show up in reliability surveys, largely because it does not sell in large enough numbers.

However, Nissan products are quite well - the X-Trail, for example, appears at number nine in the latest survey by JD Power 4x4 - with the company ranked seventh in direct manufacturer's warranty index reliability.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine produces 265bhp at 6000rpm and 248lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm, which puts it well in sports 4x4 territory: there are a lot of power on tap and delivery very good. The automatic gearbox CVT has also been revised and improved, the changes are not exactly fast, but it swaps cogs in points in the rev range to ensure that neither boring nor undue jolting over-revving (as is often the case with the FPC "boxes).

The car we tested was the first model built for the U.S. market, there will be some changes to meet the drivers of the United Kingdom, the largest which is a stiffening of the suspension of 10%. The car led us wallowed too much for our taste - that Americans do not seem to mind - but bent a suspension must end over it, enabling it to fight against roads with the types of turns U.S. drivers face rarely.

The direction, as might be expected of such a car is quite uncommunicative, which is unlikely to change United Kingdom on cars when they arrive.

Again, because the Murano is sold in limited numbers, there is no Euro NCAP rating: However, apart from a poor spectacle of Navara Pick-up before being revised, the latter generally have Nissans good crash test figures, with the Qashqai particularly well mark (five stars for protection of adults, four children and two for pedestrians). The Murano also acquitted himself and the USA-crash tests, which are quite stringent.

The Murano offers a comprehensive set of active and passive safety features, including six airbags, seatbelts with pretensioners before, active head restraints, tire pressure and monitor the child seat anchors (Isofix the UK Uni).

All-wheel drive, the Murano has a vehicle dynamics control (VDC) system with yaw, skating wheels and steering angle sensors and standard ESP and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).

The spec US-led us car is extremely comfortable, but there was a little too bodyroll. However, the United Kingdom car will have its suspension tuned for European tastes and will be approximately 10% stiffer, which should still be in line for a trip.

The Murano is equipped with new seats that were designed to be more positive and certainly do the job: with a steering wheel that adjusts for rake and reach, tension and heated seats means that drivers of all sizes must find a driving position that suits him, as you want for a car for whom comfort is near its USP.

The rear seats offer plenty of room too, with adults in the back after a lot of space. The 60/40 fold-flat rear seat now has a function to return - the seat back to the vertical position at the touch of a button - and there is a new sub-floor storage in the trunk.

Bose equipment includes a loudspeaker 11-hi-fi mated to a six-CD changer, new Nissan Navigation System with a more user-friendly graphical interface, menu structure and research, a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive, Bluetooth, speech recognition and optional iPod connector.

Source: channel4

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Volkswagen Passat R36

Volkswagen Passat R36

It is hot on the heels of the Tuareg Golf R50 and R32 - a car rather than evo loved as a long-termer.

Like the small brother, the R36 is a V6 engine - only this one'sa larger 3.6 litre. It gives the Passat a healthy 296bhp coupled with 258lb ft of torque. Just push the lounge to 62 mph in 5.6sec with a little lardier succession to take a supplement of 0.2sec. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

The VW caris six DSG gearbox and 4MOTION four-wheel drive to help save the big dose of power V6.

As the engine, transmission and R36 sneaky badges, you'll be able to decipher the high end of its regular Passat models in 20 mm lowest in the vehicle, has stepped up bumpers, blue and brake calipers rear double, and so on. The interior is usually the type of sport edition stuff - lining aluminum alloy pedals and "R" dials.

The show costs £30990. The same engine and transmission in place is available in more subtle style Passat CC, without R36 raciness outside, for £31120.

Source: evo

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