New Cars Blog

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:42:00 +0000

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 While we\'ve heard reports that the SRT (or SRT8, depending on whom you trust) will get as much as 500 hp from its new 6.4-liter Hemi V8, we\'re at least certain that the SRT is actually coming, and likely to arrive late this summer. If it\'s anything like the already deeply impressive Grand, the SRT8 is going to be both refined and scary fast, with a predicted eight-speed transmission and at a price (roughly $45,000) that deeply undercuts the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and other performance crossovers. Read more: Best New Cars for 2012 - 12 Cool Cars Worth Waiting For - Popular Mechanics

Fiat 500 Abarth

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:28:00 +0000

Looking car this the impatient driver in the Mercedes-Benz E-class never had a chance. While driving the new Fiat 500 Abarth along the A13 autoroute just outside of Paris, we somehow missed the sign indicating the speed limit had jumped far above our current pace. Suddenly, the big German luxury sedan was looming in the rear window, its three-pointed star only inches from our rear bumper. The polite thing to do would be to move over and make way, but the 135-hp Abarth does not take kindly to being bossed around. A quick gearchange from the five-speed manual transmission elicited a bark from the Fiat's little turbocharged-and-intercooled 1.4-liter four-cylinder, and the car shot down the road. In a couple seconds, the Benz became a tiny speck in the rearview mirror. Although its size is deceiving, the Fiat 500 Abarth is a full-blooded Italian sports car in a small-car package.

Best The Veyron Bugatti Concept Sport Car by Hartmut Warkuss

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:29:00 +0000

The Veyron was designed by Hartmut Warkuss of Volkswagen rather than Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign who had handled the three prior Bugatti concepts. Development continued throughout 2001 and the EB 16/4 Veyron was promoted to \"advanced concept\" status. In late 2001 Bugatti announced that the car, officially called the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 , would go into production in 2003. The car experienced significant problems, however. High-speed stability was difficult, with one prototype destroyed in a crash and another spun out during a press demonstration at the Monterey Historics event in Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca . Production of the Veyron was delayed indefinitely. After the release of the car, it has become known that while each Veyron is being sold for £840,000, the production costs of the car are approximately £5 million per vehicle. As Bugatti, and therefore Volkswagen, are making such a huge loss, it has been likened by influential journalist Jeremy Clarkson to Concorde ; both are largely impractical experiments in technology and ground-breaking performance created just to prove that it could be done. A car the like of the Bugatti Veyron may not be seen in production again for some time to come, if at all. The Veyron features a W16 engine 16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders, or the equivalent of two narrow-angle V8 engines mated in a vee configuration. Each cylinder has 4 valves , for a total of 64, but the narrow V8 configuration allows two camshafts to drive two banks of cylinders so only 4 camshafts are needed. The engine is fed by four turbochargers , and it displaces 8.0 L (7,993 cm³/488 in³) with a square 86 by 86 mm bore and stroke. The Veyron\'s 16-cylinder engine is based on the innovative \"W\" design introduced in the 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The Veyron\'s version features two 90-degree V8s offset by 15 degrees. The offset allows each cylinder to be placed close to its neighbor, which reduces the total size of the massive 8.0-liter engine. A Formula 1?style dry-sump lubrication system keeps the engine moving smoothly. It\'s easier to spin many small turbochargers than one or two large ones, so Bugatti employs four turbos to reduce boost lag. The strategy works: The engine creates 922 lb.-ft. of torque at only 2,200 rpm. Putting this power to the ground is a dual-clutch DSG computer-controlled manual transmission with 7 gear ratios via shifter paddles behind the steering wheel. Or it can be driven by full automatic transmission. The Veyron also features full-time all wheel drive , necessary given the output of the engine. It uses special Michelin PAX System run-flat tires, which had to be designed specifically for the Veyron, and which are capable of running at 402 km/h (253 mph). The car\'s wheelbase is 2700 mm (106.3 in). Overall length is 4466 mm (175.8 in). It measures 1998 mm (78.7 in) wide and 1206 mm (47.5 in) tall. Curb weight is expected to reach 4300 lb (1950 kg) with a power to weight ratio of 513.3 hp per ton (metric) or 4.36 lb/hp (SAE).The Bugatti Veyron has a total of 10 radiators .

Shelby Twin-Turbo V8 Engine Supercar Ultimate Aero User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:27:00 +0000

Shelby Supercar engine in the base Aero model is same as the previous year, but the Ultimate Aero has a 6.35-litre (387.2 cu in) engine, rated at 1,183 bhp (882 kW) at 6950 rpm and 1,094 lb·ft (1,483 N·m) torque at 6150 rpm, and the supercharger is replaced by a twin turbocharger with cabin adjustable boost pressure. The car is designed to use 91-octane gasoline. The 6-speed transmission is readjusted to increase the theoretical top speed to 273.75 mph (437 km/h) at 7200 rpm, however whether the vehicle is able to reach this speed is highly questionable and has never been tested. Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp, base price is $654,400. Tested in March 2007 by Guinness world records Wheels on the base model are sized 18-inch at the front and 19-inch at the rear, while the Ultimate Aero TT has wheels an inch larger at each end. The 2007 models are heavier, with the base model weighing 2,850 lb (1,290 kg), and Ultimate version 2,750 lb (1,250 kg). Unlike the previous year, base models have a navigation system, 10-speaker audio/CD/DVD system, video/DVD screen, back-up camera, air-conditioning, and trunk space as standard equipment. These come optional on the Ultimate. The first production 2007 Ultimate Aero TT car was sold on eBay for US $431,100. Later cars are expected to cost US $654,000. Only 24 Ultimate Aero TT\'s are going to be produced from 2006-2007. The Ultimate Aero TT made its international debut on the International Show Circuit in November 2006, culminating with the world record top-speed competition held in Wolfsburg, Germany in May 2007.

Mustang Saleen S7 Twin Turbo Design Sport User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:26:00 +0000

Saleen knows all about power. As in S281 Mustangs, N2O Focuses and the S7, America's first (and still the only) mid-engine exotic supercar. When it went on sale in 2002, the S7 was the only street-legal car in the U.S. with more than 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The media and S7 owners have raved about the car since it first smoked the rear tires in anger. And it has been recognized by numerous automotive magazines as the fastest production car in the world. But during the past three years the automobile marketplace has witnessed an explosion of performance with models from manufacturers including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Chevrolet touting power numbers above the once magic 500 level. Designed by Saleen engineers, the S7\'s engine and drivetrain incorporate the latest in modern racing technology. The new all-aluminum V8 engine casting was engineered and tooled by Saleen to displace seven liters. Redline is 6500 rpm. Space age materials and engineering are used throughout, including stainless steel valves, titanium retainers, beryllium exhaust valve seats, an aluminum throttle body, Saleen designed aluminum CNC-machined cylinder heads and stainless steel exhaust system. An exclusive Saleen-designed Front Engine Accessory Drive (FEAD) system results in an extremely compact engine, allowing for better packaging and overall weight distribution. The V8 incorporates a unique Saleen-designed side-mounted water pump, a belt-driven camshaft drive and a Saleen-engineered dry sump oil delivery system. The engine\'s mid-chassis placement optimizes weight distribution and center of gravity, making room for an unusually tall engine that allows for a very efficient induction system. Air enters a roof intake, passes through a 90-mm mass air meter and feeds into a carbon fiber plenum. From the plenum the air is routed to the twin ball bearing turbos, is pressurized to 5.5 psi max and then passes through an oval-bore throttle body into an aluminum intake manifold with eight individual runners.

Koenigsegg CCR Design Sport Car User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Koenigsegg\'s design seeks to give an interpretation of strength and flowing motion. The body of a Koenigsegg is formed for one ultimate purpose; speed. Its beauty is the beauty of speed itself. The surfaces are shaped to perfectly aerodynamic, an appearance that does not deceive. All aspects of this machine serve its one fundamental objective. Both the body and chassis of a Koenigsegg are made of extremely lightweight carbon fibre composite, reinforced with Kevlar and aluminium honeycomb. Its race-bred suspension system brings the driver in control of all movement, even under the toughest racing conditions. The car was styled by Christian von Koenigsegg himself but its shape is largely dictated by aerodynamics. It is not as striking as Pagani or Enzo. At some angles it even looks bulky, like a big whale. But the whale delivers a sense of power that you can\'t find in its rivals either. Because of the targeted top speed, the body is designed to be so smooth that it has a very low drag coefficient of 0.30. This is much lower than Enzo (0.36), SLR (0.37) and Carrera GT (0.39). Unsurprisingly, the downside is a rather low downforce, just 50kg at the front and 70kg at the back. For comparison, an Enzo generates 775kg while Pagani achieves 500kg. The chassis is constructed like other supercars. Central to it is a carbon-fiber tub (Koenigsegg called it \"semi-monocoque\") attached with steel subframe up front and aluminum subframe at the rear for mounting engine, gearbox and suspensions. Chassis rigidity is 28,100Nm per degree despite of the targa roof. The whole bodyshell is also carbon-fiber. Koenigsegg claims a dry weight of 1175kg, which translates to 1275kg when fluid and fuel are loaded, i.e., what we usually refer to \"kerb weight\". In other words, CC8S is about as light as Pagani and Saleen S7, while being around 100 kilograms lighter than Enzo and Carrera GT.

2010 Hyundai Sonata i40 Electric Hybrid User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:24:00 +0000

Hyundai presented the next generation Sonata sedan, which is on the European market would be called i40. 2010 Hyundai Sonata gets a new platform and a different range of engines, which will include a series of turbo diesel "R" and the four-and six-cylinder petrol engines. It is also expected to modify the appearance of 228-strong hybrid that combines 2.0-liter turbo-charged (according to other sources - 2.4-liter) capacity of 30 kilowatt electric motor, lithium-ion batteries, and six-speed automatic transmission. In the sale of novelty will appear early next year. According to some foreign publications in Europe, first to the market can go touring Hyundai i40, then hatchback, sedan and the hybrid version.

User Manual Lexus LF-Ch Hybrid Sport Car

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:14:00 +0000

The Lexus LF-Ch Idea Car module be familiar as the goods car, which present ask the rap in the autumn of next period, is not yet acknowledged. Mankind premiere of Lexus LF-Ch leave be held at the global Efferent Conduct in Frankfurt. Lexus hatchback conception organism faculty get a cognition plant, which leave allot the car to locomote as a native motorcar, and with the associated use of straight fuel engine and motorcar travel. The prototype present be accoutred with facilities that combines running on the Atkinson round four-cylinder 2.4-liter organisation, fiver element hydride batteries, automobile locomote and CVT. The totality capacity of nation plant testament tidy 187 horsepower. According to any reports, the serial-door Lexus instrument get front-wheel move (for the minute all models of variety exclusive offered with rear-or all-wheel swing) and module be titled the Lexus CT. Commentary that the Nipponese associate has already registered the make in the Amalgamate States CT 200h, CT 300h and CT 400h as swop marks.

Pagani Zonda R Clubsport full cell User Manual Sport Car

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:11:00 +0000

The Pagani Zonda R Clubsport - 220 mph (354 rate) is real unequaled in its own rightish but has several projection, empennage, signs of another super cars on this diplomatist, see if you can blot them. This is a very, very rapidly presto car The median paper chassis incorporates a manuscript enclosure and a safe racing provide cell with 4 furnish shoe and hurried refuel object cap, corresponding to GT taxon cars. The wheelbase has been multiplied by 47 mm (1.9 in) to increase steadiness. The frontmost and back subframes are brand-new, stacked to comply new inactivity geometry, and produced in Avional. The slick-shod wheels are new forged-magnesium centre-lock models, which in conjunctive with on-board pneumatic airjacks (again, same the FXX) give rapid occurrence of the intact transport assemblies. The car senses, displays and logs collection nearly the become of downforce that is generated at each travel at all times. It is content that this group instrument enable owners to adapt set-up ccording to course conditions and to amend their cornering framework. Bodywork In acquisition to the wheelbase gain (47 mm), boilersuit length has enhanced by 394 mm (15.5 in) and cross by 50 mm (2 in). The bodywork and aerodynamics acquire been castrated to act maximum downforce, featuring a mortal forward cowling with surface, a closed underbody and a new rear hang with adjustable erect stage and race-derived baffle. These are motivated to retell into hyperbolic aerodynamic efficiency and downforce for extremum cornering travel. It is also noted that the car\'s new lift bodywork is borderline in the intense, being unflappable mostly of crack. This is content to be characteristic of the beggary to fastness the engine caller enough, flat under hard to the gutted bodywork of the Ferrari Evoluzione. Engine Sign has raised to 750 bhp (559 kW) at 8000 rpm and 523 lb·ft (709 N·m) of torque. A lightweight carbon fabric gymnasium execution intake scheme, racing double disc sintered overtake and Direction 1-style fumes group, hydroformed in Inconel 625 and ceramic backed for optimal temperature intemperance, have been extra. The engine is cooperative with a 6-speed transverse-mounted exercise sequential synchronous gearb Part The car\'s inward is hellene reflecting the car\'s racecourse aspirations and motivated institution, and features bespoken seats, customised to the wood to move peak livelihood. As before, the Digitek arranging provides unexpendable content and the worldly telemetry allows a tracheophyte of sensors to observe numerous aspects of the car.

Pininfarina Nido Concept Mini Car User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:07:00 +0000

Romance Pininfarina, specializing in embody win and organization cars in Japan module inst its foremost \"independent\" case construct - Nido from the Romance module implementation \"nest\". In the transmute of arrangement for equivocal minicars developers at the perspective put surety. And not exclusive the safety of the utility and passenger, but also pedestrians. This is achieved finished easily deformable first of the chassis that the striking to minimize the possibility of a fatal outcome. Also contributing to this unadaptable artefact of the cabin, in favor, \"protected\" by the utility along with his associate, and a specific shock-absorbing pattern.

2011 McLaren MP4-12C Sport Car User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:06:00 +0000

McLaren Automotive officially presented MP4-12C supercar, previously identified low the code plant P11 and is the prototypal car from the measure of the unreal F1. Twofold mid McLaren MP4-12C was realized \"in one piece\" carbon chassis, which carries the aluminum and special plastic embody panels. Eight-installed 3.8-liter engine with an standpoint of 90 degrees to the have of the cylinders and the two turbines. Its content is virtually 600 horsepower and maximum torque is 595 Nm (80 per centime of which is already open from 2000 rpm). The motorial gift be victimised with the seven-Graziano robotized coefficient with dual-clutch transmittal and a select taxied. According to origin aggregation from the gain up to \"hundreds\" McLaren supercar leave ram for about iii seconds. Its top rate of 320 kilometers per distance. Income of McLaren MP4-12C, which is scheduled to promulgation a small edition of one chiliad copies, testament be no earlier than 2011. The car faculty do to the markets of USA, UK, Frg, Assemblage and the Mid Easternmost.

Mazda MX-5 Roadster Sport User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:02:00 +0000

Mazda showed the lightweight conception car - Superlight, built on the MX-5 equipage. This car is designed with European design partition of the visitant, supported in Oberursel, Deutschland. Idea shapely to celebrate the 20 day modelling MX-5/Miata. Execute of new conception planned for the global auto lead in City. Mazda Superlight unit is only 995 kg. Mazda Superlight prepared with a acceptable four-turbocharged engine of 1.8 liter power 126 hp, extremum force is isometrical to 166 Nm. Speedup 0-100 km / h in 9.2 seconds with the conception. Machine received 17-inch wheels with tires of dimension 205/45, Bilstein revolt absorbers and springs Eibach.

Sport Car Renault ZE Electric

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Renault introduced at the Frankfurt Motorcar Impart, cardinal auto container conception, of which the closest to prayer production Fluence ZE assistant. Budget Fluence sedan got a new decoration, 95-hp galvanising motor and shelling lithium-ion batteries, which is sufficiency for 160 kilometers. Intrust can be within 4-8 hours, the fastest way for 20 minutes or be replaced by a hot firing on a special position for 3 minutes. Car car idea to waiver to the markets of Aggregation and Sion in 2011, when the lithium-ion batteries module beautify obtainable and the Government leave acquire a refund show for the acquire of auto vehicles.

Alfa romeo giulia 2012 User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Alfa Romeo will publish their last child, 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia. It's a long, comes with regard to rumors about the 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia has been around for some time now. But in a classic case of "better late than never", the new 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia, which is expected to hit the assembly line at the tail end of 2012, is now further along in its development. This is great news for fans of Italian ten tons, while other sports sedan upcoming release, a source of concern for some of its German rivals, including BMW and Audi. The brand, which saw his recent struggles, Fiat hopes that the new 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia sports sedan, a car that will help the Italian brand back to its place in the automotive agreement. It is a difficult task for a sports sedan, due to intense competition it faces is a market where it has been released yet, the Alfa Romeo believes that the 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia that will lead them to found glory in 2012. Read this

Honda civic si interior

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:51:00 +0000

Looking for honda civic interior,,..

Chevrolet Spark 2012 Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:53:00 +0000

2012 Chevy Spark 2012 Chevy Spark First Drive It was one of GM's most enlightened moves maybe ever when it decided back in the still relatively happy days of 2007 to introduce three bold minicar concepts at the 2007 New York Auto Show. The Trax, Groove and Beat appeared (perfect
for New York, since urban citizens generally speak only in monosyllables), and a little contest ensued to pick a favorite. And now we've just driven around Athens, Greece, in the production version of the Beat, apparently the winning entry. Eventually to be known to us as the 2012 Chevrolet Spark, the new mini-size car will go on sale in Europe this coming March. We really love these proper European minicars in the context of stressed-out city streets. The 2012 Chevy Spark is not a revelation, but it is what one should expect for this market segment in European terms, and that's saying a lot for a car that must fit into a genre that has become a sort of art form. But when it comes our way as currently planned in 2011, can the 2012 Chevy Spark excite Americans for more than one selling season? The appeal of the Smart Fortwo in America suggests that so far we see a tiny tot like this as a bauble, not a necessity.

2012 Buick Verano User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:59:00 +0000

Will Buick repeat its Enclave magic with the Verano? The Enclave shares its platform with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. It also shares Buick-GMC dealership floors with the Acadia Denali, a premium crossover that comes with similar sticker prices. Yet GM says there\'s virtually no cross-shopping between the Enclave and Acadia Denali. Different customers, the company says, so Enclave sales continue to increase, four years into the product cycle. The Cruze was supposed to be a new-age Chevrolet compact, with premium attributes at a Chevy price. Well-equipped models have pretty nice interiors and a long roster of features. Where is there room for a Buick version? North American market Chevy Cruzes even got the Z-link rear suspension (except for the fuel-miser Cruze Eco) that GM was saving just for the Buick. While the Cruze is a global-market car, the Buick Verano, like the Regal, is heavily based on an Opel/Vauxhall, in this case the Astra four-door sedan. Chief engineer Jim Federico notes that the Buick/Opel has an especially rigid body structure, so he was able to tune it for a more comfortable ride, while maintaining good handling attributes. True to Buick\'s reputation, the Verano will have the tightest body sealing possible and engine compartment acoustics to ensure it\'s among the quietest compacts extant. 2012 Buick Verano Side Illustration The Verano shows off the kind of elegance that made the 1961-62 Special a standout. It \"has the kind of proportions not unlike the LaCrosse,\" notes Buick design director David Lyon, with its long cabin and sleek aero. It shares no sheetmetal with the Cruze, and unlike the Chevy or the Opel/Vauxhall, it has \"portholes,\" or ventiports, on each side of the hood. The Kennedy-era Special comparison is apt because GM\'s first modern compacts were distinguished by engines as well as layout. The Special, with its all-new V-6 and mini-LeSabre/Invicta/Electra 225 styling, won our 1962 Car of the Year award, one year after the Pontiac Tempest and two years after the Corvair.

2011 CTS-V Coupe Race Car User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:54:00 +0000

It\'s believed by many automakers that involvement in motorsports improves not just race cars, but road cars as well. To that end, Cadillac will be returning to the Sports Car Club of America\'s World Challenge series in 2011 with a race-prepped CTS-V Coupe which General Motors will display at the 2011 Detroit auto show. Cadillac is no stranger to the SCCA World Challenge, having contested the GT Class series in a Cadillac CTS-V sedan during the 2004-2007 seasons. Cadillac even won the Manufacturer\'s Championship in 2005 and 2007, also scoring the Driver\'s Championship in 2005 with driver Andy Pilgrim. Pilgrim is back for the 2011 effort, alongside fellow American driver Johnny O\'Connell, himself a motorsports veteran. The SCCA World Challenge series is production based, meaning all cars competing are racing versions of road cars able to be purchased by the general public. While each car is upgraded in terms of both performance and safety, including some bodywork modification and tuning of the engine, suspension, and brakes, the cars remain relatively close to their production specification. \"Returning to racing in the SCCA World Challenge is a great way to demonstrate the performance and capability of the CTS-V Coupe, \" said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing. \'The racecars in this series are production based which allows us to validate our performance against the best of our competitors on the track, and not just the showroom.\" Pratt & Miller, an engineering firm in Michigan that has also been responsible for Chevrolet\'s all-conquering C5.R and C6.R race cars, along with the new Corvette GT2 class American Le Mans Series racers and road-going C6RS, will be co-developing the CTS-V Coupe race car with GM\'s performance department. Like many others competing in production-based series, General Motors says it will use what it learns to further the development of its street cars. \"The SCCA World Challenge lends itself to a natural transfer of knowledge,\" said Jim Campbell, GM vice president for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. \"The series will become a key test-bed for Cadillac. We anticipate using what we learn on the racetrack to ensure the V-Series stays on the cutting edge of performance. The 2011 SCCA World Challenge series opens March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

2011 Chrysler 300 User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:47:00 +0000

The golden crest is gone, but the Chrysler name is still spelled out and surrounded by a pair of wings atop the front-grille frame. The eggcrate grille has been swapped for one composed of sculpted horizontal slats, as seen on the Chrysler 200 and Town & Country (and, unfortunately, the Hyundai Sonata). Projector-beam headlights have evolved to incorporate must-mean-it\'s-luxury LEDs. Although the windshield is more steeply raked, the upright proportions, boxy roofline, and purposeful stance clearly recall the car that nabbed our Golden Calipers back in 2005. But now it\'s more refined and less cartoonish. Gone are the slab sides and sharp creases that hint at Gotham City chase scenes and staccato tommy-gun fire. Though the muscular wheel arches remain, softer lines and smoother arcs shape the hood and trunklid, while chrome-trimmed taillights serve as a dramatic flourish to this top-hat-to-spats reformulation. The LED daytime running lights are arranged in the shape of a \"C\" in Chrysler\'s honor. The cabin receives as compelling a treatment as the Charger, including similar HVAC controls and the optional 8.4-inch infotainment screen backed by Garmin\'s navigation software. Additional available features include 20-inch wheels, heated and cooled seats and cupholders, and a dual-pane sunroof. The soft-touch dash and higher-quality plastics feel just as good as in the Charger, but are styled differently and trimmed with classy, handsome wood and, of course, that analog clock. To assist the cool, refined ride, engineers found it necessary to tune the interior cabin noise -- not just for overall sound level, but for sound quality as well. The 300 is fitted with two premium-composite underbody panels that are responsible for over 8 feet of acoustic insulation and smoothing lower airflow. Being a flagship has its perks, after all. Like its predecessor, the 2011 Chrysler 300 will be offered in rear and all-wheel drive; the latter system employs an active transfer case and seamless disconnecting front axle that Chrysler claims improves fuel economy by 5 percent. Touring and Limited models come with the corporate Pentastar V-6, which delivers 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in full-size sedan guise. Chrysler\'s ubiquitous HEMI 5.7-liter V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology will continue to power the 300C and should deliver 360 horsepower and 390-pound-feet of torque. Suspension geometry was altered in the pursuit of better handling and the electro-hydraulic power steering is tweaked for the driver\'s touch. Prices will range from $27,995 for a base 300 to $38,995 for a RWD 300C, with AWD versions going up to $41,145. When it launched six years ago, the 300 was an immediate hit and went on to become one of the brand\'s most valuable players. While times (and parent companies) have changed in the intervening years, the importance of the 300 in the new lineup can\'t be overstated. Chrysler needs a grand performance from its flagship now more than ever.

Best Ford Vertrek Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:45:00 +0000

Alan Mulally insisted Ford resurrect the Taurus namplate, then turned the Explorer into a midsize crossover sport/utility. Can he, will he, name the sleek new Vertrek -- an obvious hint for the 2013 Escape replacement -- the Escape? The Vertrek concept, unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, goes on sale in early 2012 and is Escape in size and European Kuga in its use of Martin Smith\'s sleek \"kinetic design\" language. Like the Focus and C-Max with which it will share its front-drive platform, the Vertrek\'s profile features a \"Zorro Flip\" with converging Z-shaped accents between the front quarter-panel, the doors, and the rear quarter-panel. The hood\'s center bulge, with its unusual cutout pattern just ahead of the windshield, is said to be production-ready, though the skylight-style glass roof panel behind it isn\'t. The deeply drawn lower-profile accents also are a good indication of production. Don\'t count on the sequential LED taillamps and certainly not the sleek, low sideview mirrors, which help create a \"wing\" look by connecting with the dashboard. The deep-bucket 2+2 seats are pure concept, but the interior materials give good hints at the level of attention Ford\'s interior designers paid to the inside. From the outside, add a thick B-pillar, remove the power-operated foldout running boards, and you\'ve got a good look at the next Escape. \"We\'ve pulled the A-pillar forward\" and made a sleeker roofline, with a sport coupe-like rear roof resembling the current Kuga\'s, says J Mays, Ford\'s group vice president for design and chief creative officer. \"People actually think we\'ve lowered the car, but we haven\'t.

2012 Ford C-Max U.S. Spec User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:43:00 +0000

Ford expects its share of the growing c-segment, or compact category, in the United States to reach 200,000 units per year in the next couple of years. Yes, it\'s well on its way even with the current, outdated North American Focus. However, One Ford, which makes universal the vast majority of Ford\'s front-drive models around the world, will soon expand the next-generation Focus into a number of variants and different bodystyles. With Ford\'s retooled, uber-flexible c-car factory online now building the 2012 Ford Focus in Wayne, Michigan, it can afford to gamble on sub-segments that haven\'t done well here before. Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak says the company can shift production from a slow-selling variant to a new, hot variant cheaply and quickly. So, are we ready to buy small minivans? Mazda sells about 15,000 to 20,000 of its four-cylinder Mazda5 minivans per year in the United States. While that\'s a very small number, it\'s done with virtually no marketing effort here. The \'12 Focus launches early in \'11 with two bodystyles, the four-door sedan and four-door hatchback. Next up will be the 2012 Ford C-Max, recently introduced in Europe. At 178 inches overall on a 109-inch wheelbase, it\'s 22.2 inches and 10.3 inches shorter, respectively, than the new Toyota Sienna minivan. For young families who feel compelled to buy a minivan as soon as they have their first child, the Ford C-Max may fit the bill. It seats up to seven people, which means mom or dad can drive her or his kid and five classmates and be a responsible car-pooler. A competitor for such models as the Opel Zafira, Renault Scenic and Chevrolet Orlando in Europe, the C-Max features American minivan-like sliding rear doors on both sides, complete with visible rail openings between the rear doors and the taillamps. The one-box look is sleeker than most of the competition, however, with a rakish a-pillar and header. Ford calls the three rows of seats a \"5+2\" arrangement, with two extra seats that fold down and out of the way in the rear cargo compartment. While a first-drive of the North American model is still a ways off, we\'ve driven the European version, and those two extra seats are best suited for kids on their way to and from school or soccer practice, or for a particularly affectionate couple coming along for the short ride to a concert or restaurant. The center row features a neat feature: the middle seat flips forward and then to its right. Then you flip up the seat-cushion of the passenger-side second row seat, and the middle seat folds neatly underneath, for 2+2 seating. Both outboard second row seats slide and recline.

GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:39:00 +0000

Despite everything you\'ve read, there is still a market for big, expensive lifestyle pickup trucks. So GMC is tackling the Ford SVT Raptor/ Dodge Power Wagon market with its own kind of executive off-roader, the Sierra All Terrain Concept. Unlike the Raptor, it\'s based on the Sierra 2500 HD. And keep in mind that at this point, it\'s only a concept. In fact, just as the Ford Super Chief concept hinted about the look of the latest F-150, the Sierra All Terrain hints at the next 1500 Sierra, due in the \'13 model year. The concept features a 39-degree approach angle and 31 degree departure angle. Built on an \'11 Sierra 2500 crew cab body, with a 1500\'s five-foot, eight-inch box, the concept has a stock Duramax turbodiesel, making 390 horsepower and 745 pound-feet, like the production engine. Transmission also is stock, the Allison six-speed automatic. Thanks to the non-stock box/body combo, the concept\'s wheelbase is 149 inches, two inches shorter than a Sierra 2500 Crew Cab. GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept Front Three Quarters.Jpeg Suspension features custom upper- and lower-control arms, and Fox supplied second rebound shocks front and rear. Tires are knobby 35-inch BFGs on 20-inch aluminum wheels. The front clip and hood is unique to the concept, with larger hood intakes to feed more air to the 6.6-liter Duramax. On the profile, you\'ll notice a blacked-out b-pillar and anodized trim. A custom automatic swing-down entry/exit step stays out of the way for serious off-roading, and there\'s another swing-down step for the box just behind the rear doors, for easier loading and unloading. It\'s no basic work truck, which means the leather interior is straight out of the HD Sierra Denali. A new radio includes an 80-gig hard drive. The concept adds lockable side storage compartments, with an electrical outlet, a compressed air outlet and a 360-degree floodlight in the box. GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept Rear Three Quarter.Jpeg Way in back, the designers have added LED taillamps and an integrated skidplate, and dual exhausts. So, any production plans? It would be easy for GMC to build this truck, mostly with off-the-shelf parts. And like the Ford F-150 Raptor SVT, it would be a low-volume, high-price halo truck, anyway. It\'s more important as a kind of hint about what the next Sierra will look like. The styling suggests homage to the ground-breaking \"fuselage\"-style GM pickups of 1973, though there\'s a bit of Ford F-Series in the grille graphic. It\'s also a chance for GMC to facelift the current Heavy Duty Sierras, which were redesigned for \'11. Due to budget constraints, GMC (and Chevy with the HD Silverado) concentrated on making a new truck under the skin. There\'s very little visual difference from the previous heavy duty trucks.

Hyundai Curb Concept Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:37:00 +0000

A car\'s visual appeal is usually the most direct route to the customer\'s heart, but connectivity is growing in importance as a purchase consideration. Hyundai\'s aptly named Curb concept at this year\'s 2011 Detroit show has enough show, both inside and out, to satisfy both desires. Penned with Generation Y in mind (what isn\'t these days?), the Hyundai Curb concept is an experimental \"Urban Activity Vehicle\" -- that\'s Hyundai\'s PR speak for an urban-focused compact crossover. It\'s the 12th signature concept vehicle drawn from the company\'s California Design Center, and shares the Tucson\'s 103.9-inch wheelbase, but it is shorter, narrower, and loses more than three inches of height to appease the younger consumer. Elements of Hyundai\'s \"Fluidic Sculpture\" design philosophy are obvious, especially in the boomerang trajectory design line on the flanks. A third rear door is grafted to the passenger side, a la the Veloster. Hyundai Curb Concept Rear Three Quarter Curbside gawkers will notice the third door, and that the black A-pillars give the Curb a unique presence from the front and sides. Gargantuan concept-style 22-inch, five-spoke wheels aren\'t normally found on crossovers, let alone small ones, but this concept has them. The wheel spokes that latch to the Michelin tire sidewalls to exude a heartier profile. The thin headlights and taillights have been designed to look as though they\'re retreating into the body. Like any good concept, there is plenty of one-off future-tech wizardry. Swipable touchpads open the doors and the rear hatch, eliminating the need for handles. The exhaust outlets can pop out to reveal a bike rack, and the roof has a pop-up roof rack. LED lighting is the new standard, and Shamze Custom Coatings placed the Curb name in the paint. Hyundai Curb Concept Interior The Curb\'s interior is the party piece. Hyundai\'s all-new Blue Link telematics system is on board, allowing youngsters to connect to their Facebook pages and leaves an open path for future social media platforms. An engrossing acrylic touch screen sweeps from the driver\'s gauge cluster to the center stack and toward the back seats in a single continuous flow, like something in a sci-fi spaceship. Rear passengers can enjoy the monitors carved into the headrests, and Pandora Internet radio is available for occupants. The steering wheel\'s opaque surface houses its own monitor for additional optical duties. A Reflective Heads-Up Display, sourced from auto supplier giant Continental, shows the navigation, vehicle diagnostics, downloaded apps, and feeds from the videophone and outboard cameras, which replace the Curb\'s side mirrors. There\'s a host of saffron-colored accents inside, and the seats were kept extremely thin for packaging purposes. The rear seat slides back and forth, then folds flat when needed. The rear headrests are fixed to the headliner and can be stowed if necessary. Hyundai Curb Concept Interior Rendering Turning the attention back to the young driver, a version of Hyundai\'s new Gamma 1.6-liter inline-four provides the Curb\'s motivation. The basic engine layout is shared with the Veloster, but the biggest Curb difference is forced induction, which should appeal to enthusiasts. The turbocharged four-banger outputs 175 horsepower and 169 lb-ft of torque. We wouldn\'t be surprised to find this engine make its way into the Veloster at some point. The Curb also gets Hyundai\'s Idle Stop and Go, a technology slowly making its way into the U.S.-market vehicles. The Direct Shift Gearbox, a showy name for a twin-clutch automatic transmission, dispenses the Gamma\'s power to the tarmac. Whether the Curb finds its way into production is anybody\'s guess. But the amount of technology that\'s being assimilated into cars nowadays is a given, whether we want it or not. Hopefully, Generation Y-ers remember to keep their eyes on the road.

Kia KV7 Concept Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:49:00 +0000

Kia\'s Soul -- the funky box-on-wheels that hamsters love to drive -- was one of the Korean automaker\'s first manifestations of its new design philosophy, spearheaded by its Southern California design studio. Consider its KV7 Concept for the 2011 Detroit show a riff on the Soul aesthetic, with more room and the usual array of concept-style touches thrown into the mix. The KV7 is adorned with cues similar to that of the 2007 Soul auto show concept, applied to a vehicle slightly smaller than a Ford Flex. It features an elongated version of the two-box Soul design and a new take on Kia\'s familial face. \"From the outset, we felt the [van] category was in need of an honest reassessment due to the fact that everyone seems so desperate to attach the word \'sporty\' to their minivan, even though vans, at their very core, are simply a box,\" said Tom Kearns, chief designer at Kia Motors America. \"Rather than reject the box, we chose to celebrate it, just like we did with the Soul, and the result is a straightforward, yet sophisticated vehicle that retains the functionality vans are known for and meets the changing and diverse needs of today\'s consumers.\" Kia KV7 Concept Front Three Quarters Static Like the Soul concept before it, the KV7 features a rounded hood and flared fenders, but the flares flow all the way across the front fascia. The grille and headlights are similar in scope to modern Kias and look as if they were pulled from a 2011 Optima. Kia\'s designers shortened the grille and hid the headlights, coloring both black but surrounding the cluster with an aluminum accent. The windshield doesn\'t wrap around, but the lines from the windshield to the side windows appear to flow across the A-pillar and the side windows and feature the same tapered styling. The doors are the most interesting design element, as they appear to be the same suicide style as the Soul Concept, but with an added twist: the rear passenger door is a gullwing variety.

Mini Paceman User Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Steven) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:42:00 +0000

Resembling a cross between the Mini Coupe and Countryman, the Paceman is built on the same platform as the Countryman and designed to use the 211-horsepower, turbocharged, 1.6-liter I-4 engine from the John Cooper Works model Minis. The adaptation of Mini's ALL4 all-wheel-drive system allows owners to feel as rugged as a flannel shirt while cruising mall parking lots in washed-silk comfort. In normal driving, ALL4 sends 100-percent of the power to the front axle, but an electromagnetic center differential allows as much as half of the car's power to be sent to the rear axle in low-grip situations. The suspension system is also lifted from the Countryman using a MacPherson strut in front with a multi-link system in back. Mini states that the Paceman delivers typical Mini agility and confidence while maintaining the compliant and comfortable ride customers expect in this segment. Mini Paceman Concept Side.JPG Styling of the Paceman is described by Mini as urban, sporting and masculine. The idea of an urban off-roader seems oxymoronic, possibly even light on the "oxy" part, but it's hard to deny that our initial peek does look interesting. Mini\'s initial renderings made us think that every panel on the car is bespoke. If the Paceman does see production, odds are it will share some pieces with other Mini offerings for cost saving. The Paceman is expected to form the basis for Mini\'s impending World Rally Championship entry. The interior already looks as if it shares some pieces with the Countryman, using the same dual center rail system and four individual seats. The styling is classic Mini, featuring a large center-mounted speedometer and round air vents. The martini holders look to be a new touch, obviously a necessity for attracting the urban, rugged, masculine demographic Mini is shooting for with this crossover.