Fresh Cars Reviews: июня 2009

It was an amicable and mutual decision for Tiger Woods and General Motors ...

It was an amicable and mutual decision for Tiger Woods and General Motors when they came up with a decision to end the long time partnership signed to last until December 2009. GM is cost cutting amid the economic crunch while Tiger Woods wants to spend more time with his family.

The relationship between the legendary golfer and car manufacturer ends after almost a decade of endorsement. Wood was the prime mover of promoting the Buick to younger drivers while he rose to stardom in the world of golf. During his first stint as the Buick image model in 2000, Tiger Woods became the youngest player to conquer all the four major golf tournaments.

During his endorsement years, Woods appeared in a lot of endorsements for GM and his golf bag prominently displayed the Buick logo.

According to media experts, the deal with Woods might have cost GM a hefty $7.5 million a year. This was well worth it since Woods helped the brand be known internationally.

GM as part of its effort to survive the recession is cutting its support on sports. It will not have a Super Bowl ad this year and has withdrawn from sponsoring the Masters.

As the GM deal is ended, there is a big space to occupy on the world’s most famous golf bag for brands which need some push.

GM amid its cost cutting has been criticized by law makers on its luxurious and expensive jet for its executives. Car manufacturer Buick promised to get rid of the jets as mode of transport for its top officials.

The sports sedan is scheduled to hit the market in the last quarter of ...

Fisker automotive is teaming up with General Motors to power its hybrid sedan coined the Karma. The plug-in sedan will be powered by a 2.0L Ecotec engine which will trigger a generator to run the car after the Karma runs 50 miles on its battery. This technology is called the Q drive which was exclusively developed by Quantum Technologies for Fisker.

The Karma which may source some of its parts from the Powertrain Integration LLC unit of GM is scheduled to debut come the Detroit Auto Show in January 2009.

fisker gm hybrid

The hybrid car from Fisker will race from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds and will have a top speed of 125 mph. It will also utilize a regenerative braking to optimally utilize energy during deceleration.

The car will have two driving modes: A stealth drive is geared towards saving fuel and relaxed driving conditions while a sport drive will allow the driver to use the full power of the engine.

The design of the car was focused on using aluminum panels to keep the weight ideal and placing the battery on a center console for even distribution of weight. The sleek design makes use of long continuous line terminating with a long hood and lowered posture.

The manufacturer offers optional solar panels which may help the car cool when it is parked and help in the recharging of the battery. It may also come with solar panels that can be used at home to generate electricity during day time for household consumption and charging the car at night.

The sports sedan is scheduled to hit the market in the last quarter of 2009 with a starting sticker of $80000.

More Hybrid Car News can be found on HCO!

Mercedes dealers will sell urea in half-gallon containers, using a special ...

To meet stringent new diesel emissions criteria here in the States, new Mercedes Benz BlueTec diesels use urea, carried in a separate tank, injected into the catalyst. The urea must be replenished at service intervals — generally 10,000 miles — and now Mercedes acknowledges the vehicles won't start if the urea is allowed to run out. BlueTec cars and SUVs will notify the driver when the seven-gallon urea tank reaches one gallon, and again when it runs completely out, allowing 20 additional starts before disabling the vehicle. At least two gallons of fluid must be added for the system to reset and permit the car to be started. Now, where would you find two gallons of urea on the open road?

Mercedes dealers will sell urea in half-gallon containers, using a special mess-free store-and-fill bottle, for $7.50, but that's the expensive option. At service intervals, using bulk containers, Mercedes is expecting the fluid to run no more than the cost of diesel fuel. If you run out of emissions juice, urea transport and refill is reportedly included in your roadside assistance plan, as is tire changing — fortunate since the urea tank occupies the spare tire well. [Automotive News, Sub. Req.]

Check the website - If you don’t know where you’ve placed your owner’s ...

if you’ve recently bought a new car of you’ve been driving for quite some time now and you don’t know what kind of gasoline your car should take, it may be time to set aside a few minutes and figure out which type of gas your manufacture company recommends. Since most cars only need 87, it never hurts on how to find out. Here’s how you do it:

Check your owner’s manual - The first thing you should do is reference your owner’s manual. Every manual will have a section where it’ll tell you what gasoline they recommend for your vehicle. Simply look in the glossary for anything related to the gas consumption.

Check the website - If you don’t know where you’ve placed your owner’s manual, simply hop online and Google your car’s name. Every car company has your car manual online. From there, browse it online or simply search for something like “What kind of gas does a 2007 Honda Civic need?”. 99% of the time you’ll get your answer.

Be cheap - If your car recommends 87, stick with it, it will do just fine! There’s no need to upgrade and pay 30 cents more a gallon for a higher octane, you’re only hurting your wallet.

What takes high octane? The only cars that you’ll most likely find taking higher octane fuels are your luxury vehicles, higher performance cars that require a lot of horsepower, and others. So, unless you’re driving a higher perfomance based car there’s probably no need for you to go for the high grade.

How is my octane determined? The octane for your car is determined on a few factors. The main factor is generally the engine and how it works. As I mentioned above, the higher the horsepower, the harder it performs, the better grade of gasoline it will need.

My word of advice is that you just stick to what your manual recommends. If it recommends a higher grade, I wouldn’t use anything lower than this because it will potentially void your warranty and could cause great damage, so don’t be stupid or cheap when it comes to using better gasoline.

The only positive note for the 2009 model year is the introduction of a ...

The CarGurus team has published their review of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The Jetta is in serious need of a quick revamp. Compared to the competition (Civic, Mazda 3, Corolla), it looks seriously outdated. The only positive note for the 2009 model year is the introduction of a new clean diesel engine.

The CarGurus View

While the ‘09 Jetta won’t take home any awards for sexy styling, it offers young professionals a solid, well-built ride. By reintroducing a wagon and a clean diesel engine, the Jetta should also appeal to families needing extra space and buyers looking to increase fuel savings while reducing environmental impact. Read More…

2009 Volkswagen Jetta

The folks at CarGurus have published their review of the completely remodeled ...

The folks at CarGurus have published their review of the completely remodeled 2009 Toyota Corolla. After 40 years in production, will the Toyota Corolla remain the king of the compact car class?

The CarGurus View

The ‘09 Corolla rightly appeals to buyers both young and old looking for an economical yet reliable compact sedan. No longer the entry-level car in Toyota’s lineup (thank you, Yaris), the Corolla could have spread its wings and taken bolder steps in its design and performance, but chooses instead not to stray far from its successful formula. Though far from exciting, it delivers what its target consumer needs: dependability, a quality build, and top-notch fuel economy, all backed by Toyota’s solid reputation. Read More…

2009 Toyota Corolla

EURO NCAP Pedestrian test - Star Rating: 1 Insurance Group: 14 Manufacturers ...

Jaguar X-Type 2.0 D Saloon, Specifications & Data

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 9.4

Engine Power - BHP: 128

Engine Torque - LBS/FT: 244

Top Speed- MPH: 125

Safety

EURO NCAP Front and Side Impact test - Star Rating: 4

EURO NCAP Pedestrian test - Star Rating: 1

Insurance Group: 14

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 6

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: Unlimited

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Engine and Drive Train

CC: 1998

Compression Ratio: 18.2:1

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Cylinders: 4

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 86

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 86

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Fuel Delivery: COMMON RAIL INJECTION

Gears: 5 SPEED

Number of Valves: 16

Transmission: MANUAL

Emissions

CO2 (g/km): 149

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 4

Fuel Consumption

EC Combined (mpg): 49.1

EC Extra Urban (mpg): 61.4

EC Urban (mpg): 46.6

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 61.5

Gross Vehicle Weight (kg): 2015

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 452 litres

Max. Loading Weight(kg): 513

Max. Roof Load (kg): 75

Max. Towing Weight - Braked (kg): 1500

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked (kg): 746

Minimum Kerbweight (kg): 1502

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb (m): 10.84

Vehicle Dimensions

Height (mm): 1392

Length (mm): 4672

Wheelbase (mm): 2710

Width (mm): 1789

Width including mirrors (mm): 2003

If someone requests a larger car, they still can.

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Legislation and Policy

T.J. Donaghy runs a chauffeured car hire service in Orlando, Florida. It's one of those services that you can call up and a driver turns up at your door in a big black sedan to shuttle you around and you pay by the hour. The Lincoln Town Car has been the staple of such services for what seems like eons. In this age of $4+/gallon gas, Donaghy figured an alternative was in order, namely a Toyota Camry hybrid. Unfortunately for Donaghy, the way Orlando regulates such services is a bit overly bureaucratic. Donaghy's company falls into one of the five classes of hire car services that Orlando's city code allows. Apparently, that class requires luxury vehicles like the Town Car to be used but leaves it to city officials to decide if a car is luxurious enough to be put into service. Like defining obscenity, this is a course clearly rife with pitfalls and here they have encountered one. While cities like New York are mandating that all such services switch over to alternative drive/fuel vehicles in the coming years, some clerk in Orlando feels it would be inappropriate to make an allowance for the Camry hybrid to be used. This is clearly an area where the market should be allowed to decide. As long as Donaghy provides the level of service that customers expect, they should be allowed to determine if a car is suitable for their needs. If someone requests a larger car, they still can. But if they are content in the back of a Camry, have at it.

[Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Caterham releases teaser for Superlight R500

For those of you not familiar with Caterham Cars, the company manufactures special lightweight sports car and sis based in Caterham, Surrey, England (kind of like the Detroit of the UK motor...

There are also some rumours that another S-class diesel version will be ...

Mercedes-Benz is working to develop an electric S-class set, that is to be revealed at the Frankfurt car show in Germany, in September. With the rising, needles to say how much rising, gas prices, hybrid vehicles seem to be the future. Also, environmental issues are starting to put heavy pressure on car makers all over the world to reduce pollution, carbon emissions and even use ecological materials in building cars. But a luxury, Mercedes to run on a petrol-electric engine ?

Mercedes S class

This upcoming S class will see the light of day at the show in Frankfurt, which is sure to be the main car-event of this autumn. Mercedes is obviously trying to stand up to competition, for example the Lexus LS600h,this hybrid-electric limo race for as many buyers as possible has a good part to it. What is this good part? Well, technology that exists for some time now is finally being put to use, and the new ecological S-class is proof.

This hybrid cars will use Mercedes’ fine 3.5-litre V6 petrol technology engine, of a total of 268 hp, but integrated in a system with an additional electric motor, mounted in frond with the automatic gearbox, and connected directly to it. So, to put it in few words, the new pollution-free Mercedes S class is going to burst out at around 300 hp, and reach 62 mph in only 7.5 seconds. Consumption is still pretty high, at approx. 35 mpg.

Mercedes S class hybrid panel

There are also some rumours that another S-class diesel version will be also launched, with the same low-pollution, as “green” as possible philosophy. The cars will use Bluetec exhaust gas clean-up system, that Mercedes is surely proud of as it won them an award or two. Anyway, the two models are going to make quite an appearance at the Frankurt car show, as this S class and the C class are the only cars made almost entirely of eco material. The S class is supposed to enter production in 2008.

At least, we'd like to think so.

Filed under: Etc., Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

Photo: Mike DeNardo

In what strikes us as a bit... uh, stupid, Philadelphia is actually planning to install fake speed bumps on some city streets in an effort to slow drivers down. Obviously, the goal is to increase safety, but slowing drivers down often has the added benefit of reducing pollution and fuel consumption. According to Charles Denny, the city's chief traffic engineer, "Plastic material that is laid down, and it gives the illusion of being a hump in the roadway. And therefore people react to it as though it were a hump, and slow down. The driver sees this in the roadway, and they think that its some protrusion up out of the roadway, and not a perfectly flat surface. So they slow down before they drive over it."

Will it work? We have no idea, but we'd imagine that drivers will get the picture that there is no real bump in the road after their first experience. At least, we'd like to think so. Is this really a better idea than real speed bumps?

[Source: KYW Newsradio via Gizmodo]

Filed under: Diesel , India , USA Considering how slow change tends ...

Filed under: Diesel, India, USA

Considering how slow change tends to come in the compact truck market, perhaps the domestic automakers should feel a mild quaking in their collective boots over the impending arrival of Mahindra's new diesel-powered pickup. We can at least be sure that one of the Big 3 are wondering just how good the new Indian vehicle will be, enough to bring one over here for testing. Unfortunately, we don't have any driving impressions to share, but those should be coming soon enough. What we do know, though, is that the upcoming product will not be known as the Appalachian, which is what we've all been referring to it as until now. According to PickupTrucks.com, Mahindra is very well aware that its name is unknown in the U.S. market, so it feels the need to highlight that moniker as opposed to a model name.

The aforementioned 2.2 liter diesel engine powering Mahindra's truck was developed with assistance from Bosch and AVL. We expect about 150 horsepower, though the 300 lb. ft. of torque is the much more important figure. Paired with a standard six speed automatic transmission, the new kid on the block is looking mighty interesting.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

This means that if you were thinking of buying a new Mazda and saw the ...

Ship_1

In July, a freighter carrying brand-new Mazda vehicles to the U.S. and Canada was caught in rough seas and listed significantly, damaging many of the 4,700 vehicles on board. Now the ship has come to port, and while some of the cars it was carrying could be salvageable, Mazda said today it will not sell them as new.

Mazda said about 50% of the vehicles on board were Mazda3 compact sedans and hatchbacks, while 25% were the new CX-7 SUV. There was no description of the other 25%, but we'd guess a mix of other Japanese-produced Mazdas, like the MX-5 Miata. Salvaged models could be sold as used cars.

This means that if you were thinking of buying a new Mazda and saw the sinking ship on the news, don't worry. Your new car wasn't on the boat.

[Mazdas on Damaged Ship Won't Be Sold for Full Price, Detroit Free Press]

Also in this episode, a brief overview of cash for clunkers and why it’s ...

Remember Miss Belvedere, the ‘57 Plymouth that the fine folks of Tulsa buried when it was new, then unearthed two years ago? Yes, it emerged rusty and crusty, but the effort to preserve the car is ongoing, and for our latest episode of Hemmings Classic Car Radio, David LaChance spoke with Dwight Foster of Ultra One, the company that is working to get Miss Belvedere back into presentable shape.

Also in this episode, a brief overview of cash for clunkers and why it’s a sorry piece of wrongheaded legislation. Yes, familiar territory for constant readers of the Hemmings blog, but it’s worth repeating while the matter remains under consideration.

Click to listen to the latest episode of Hemmings Collector Car Radio now.

As an added bonus, we have exclusive photos of Miss Belvedere and the de-rusting process you may want to peruse while listening to the latest episode.

For its trip by flatbed back east, the Belvedere was shrink-wrapped. Thoughts of transferring the car to an enclosed trailer were abandoned when it was discovered just how badly the frame had deteriorated.

Here’s the reason the Plymouth is getting a donor frame. Decades of submersion left the original too weak to support the car.

Ultra One uses a pump, a hose and a kiddie pool to keep a continuous stream of Safest Rust Remover on one area at a time. The product leaves the 52-year-old paint unharmed.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, this one must be worth 1,000 “ughs.” This is the before…

and this is the after.

There are a half-dozen or so types of material used in the car’s ashtray, and Safest Rust Remover is safe for every one. With the corrosion gone, it’s possible to see that this is a brand-new, unused part.

These are the surviving sisters of the late Ray Humbertson, whose 1957 guess of Tulsa’s 2007 population was the closest of all those who entered to win Miss Belvedere. Catherine, on the left, is 94, and Levita is 85.

The official documentary about the car, “Tulsa’s Buried Belvedere,” is available from AVCOM Productions.

If you haven’t heard an episode of Hemmings Collector Car Radio until now, then now’s a good time to listen to all the previous episodes of the podcast - all free, just like the current episode.

And if you have an RSS reader, make sure to subscribe to our RSS podcast feed for notification of future Hemmings Collector Car Radio episodes. You can also subscribe to our podcast feed directly through iTunes.

Whether you are looking for a GMC, a Ford or a Honda, there is surely ...

by: Alex Baumm

Are you looking for a luxury or sporty ride that’s perfect for your pocket? Your search is over. Presenting the 8th Wonder of the Car World - used auto dealership. Used car dealers are good fellows ready to give you a helping hand for you to get the total drive that’s just right for your needs.

Used car dealers can be easily contacted online, by phone or even personally. But of all these means the practical and fast way perhaps is contacting used car dealers online.

Used auto dealership is a flourishing business right now and the competition gets even better and better for used auto dealers. As a result, the consumers benefit. Whether you are in America, UK or in any other place, you are sure to find used car dealers near you.

Quality used car dealers can really spell the difference in terms of assisting you and helping you choose the best buy. Whether you are looking for a GMC, a Ford or a Honda, there is surely one used auto that fits your lifestyle, personal and family needs. All you have to do is to compare rates, prices and features.

With the Internet giving us the means to access data from used car dealers, comparing the features that each company provides is not a big problem. Getting all the necessary details is as easy as a click of your mouse. Make notes and little columns to see comparison. There are also used car dealers who offer free quotes to customers.

Used car dealers have huge inventory of used vehicles. They have almost all the brands and types that you are looking for. Feast your eyes on a wide array of choices and rates. You can surely find the right pick with used car dealers beside you.

Used auto dealers also offer all-in-one deals including insurance and other offers. Their websites also have provisions where you can submit questions and details that will help both parties in transacting with one another.

There are also many reviews from respected persons that can help you decide on which used vehicle to acquire. There are hundreds of photos, information and complete specs all compiled to help you compare deals of used car dealers.

Jump-start your search for used vehicles by navigating and browsing through several sites’ extensive databases - all accurate and complete to give you the freedom and power to select… right at your fingertips.

You can locate used auto dealers near you for you to get the car that meets all your needs. You can also choose to browse sites per model and make.

If your money is still not enough to get your car fully-paid, used auto dealers can also offer you financing plans.

With used car dealers ready to help you out, your task of selecting used vehicle is never a big deal. They can give you all the details and specifications that are all complete and updated. So, grab your laptop now and log on to browse through used car dealers’ websites to see for yourself the choices that are in store for you.

About The Author

Alex Baumm. Find more tips at our car forum http://www.CarClubTalk.com

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Saab Aero X designer wins fashion magazine award

Hong Kong. GME Designer Anthony Lo has been named Asian Designer of the Year at the ELLE Magazine Style Awards 2007 in Hong Kong. He was honored for his work on the Saab Aero X concept, which was presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006.

Fresh Cars Reviews

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At least, we'd like to think so.

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