Automobiles

2009 Nissan GT-R First Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:56:00 +0000

This week and next Nissan is hosting a small group of lucky auto writers to get a look first-hand at the North American-spec 2009 Nissan GT-R. The location is a small area within Reno called Incline Village. Its there that it all begins. After a technology presentation by GT-R Product Manager Peter Bedrosian, I walk out to meet my driving partner. He is already at the wheel of our 2009 Silverstone Metallic GT-R. Sucks to be me.

Chambers presses the ignition button and we're off. The car almost sounds like it's supercharged and not turbocharged. Part of that sound is the whirl of the transmission, but even at about 25 miles per hour I can hear the humming of the turbos as the tach continues its rise towards the 7,000 redline.

We're headed to Reno-Fernley Raceway located about 90 miles from the city. For this first portion, my driving partner takes it about as easy as an 80-year old granny on the GT-R, never breaking more than 50mph, 4,000 rpm, also never putting any of the optional settings (located in the center stalk) on R Mode and leaving the vehicle in Automatic mode. The adrenaline is pumping (Note: sarcasm).

Almost 50 miles into the drive it's finally my turn to drive the GT-R. After over an hour of what felt like cruise control on winding stretches of road that should have been exciting at the hands of my driving partner, I need to feel how fast the Nissan can take off. Or maybe I compelled to show my partner what being in a GT-R means.

Whatever the reason, we buckle up and I tell him, "I think you might want to hold on." My foot hits the floor like I'm trying to kill a four-inch long, winged cockroach and the GT-R's 3.8L engine begins to spin exponentially, sending the tach successfully to the redline over and over again. The smile on my face is matched by the look of shock and intense fear on my partner's face that distinctly reads, "I'm about .1g from soiling my pants!"

The acceleration is unbelievable and will slap a smile on any driver's face even at partial throttle. How can a 4,000 lb showroom stock street car pull us back into the seats like a ballistic missile? 480 horsepower, that's how. After the sensation of blasting from 0 to 100mph has worn off slightly we can really begin to see what else the GT-R can do. The back roads from Reno to the track are a good opportunity as any to see how well the car can handle; most of the two-lane road is composed of heavy banked left and right turns with the occasional straight to get up to fourth or fifth gear.

Three cars are available for the track driving, with Steve Millen behind the wheel of a red GT-R for hot laps around the track. I'm confident that anyone from a guy who has never tracked a car to a regular track driver will both jump into the car see how manageable the GT-R really is.

You will drive faster from the moment you can feel how assured the chassis, acceleration, overall grip and braking all work in accord. If ever there was a car that can read minds, this is it. I drove the track with little to no fear of going off-course or making a mistake. The car is that good. The car does everything Nissan says it'll do; more importantly, the GT-R will do everything you want it to do.

Dodge Challenger SRT8

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:21:00 +0000

Chrysler finally reveals the final version of the long anticipated Dodge Challenger. All of the limited-edition 2008 Challengers will be fitted with a 6.1 liter Hemi V8 producing 425 hp.

The New Ferrari F430 The Black Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:16:00 +0000

BLACK BEAUTY-FERRARI F430----- check it out....

Ferrari Accident

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:03:00 +0000

Brooklyn Valet Hoons, Kills Audi A

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:59:00 +0000

It's the worst case scenario. Anyone that's ever left their car with a valet has had this flash in their mind right as the grinning attendant takes the keys and assures that he'll "take care of it." It's the oddly specific fear that the valet is going to take your car on the road, drive it far too hard, and smash it into pieces. Well for one Audi A8 owner, that fear has been realized...we think.

2008 Cayenne GTS To Be Unveiled in Chicago, Porsche Prez to Host

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:57:00 +0000

Peter Schwarzenbauer, president of Porsche Cars North America, will give Detroit a fat middle finger over Lake Michigan later this week, when he shows up in Chicago to unveil the 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS. Schwarzenbauer will host a breakfast before the public opening of the Chicago Auto Show this Thursday, where the fastest, hi-po Cayenne will make its US debut. Having sidestepped the Detroit show due to a mere trickle of sales there, Porsche can spend more time cozying up to one of its larger US markets -- the one in which Joel Goodsen accidentally rolled his dad's 928 into Belmont Harbor.

Lamborghini Reventon vs. Tornado

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:12:00 +0000

2008 New Renault Kangoo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:10:00 +0000

Early 1970s Ford Bronco

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Sorry, Ford truck fans, I just can't get the age range of this Bronco down to anything narrower than 1970-75. Here's your chance to tell us what year this green machine was made, and how you can tell! This truck lives on the same block as the very evil '73 Caprice wagon, and just looks so shiny and eager by comparison. Remember when the Bronco was small and didn't pretend to offer any sort of luxury? You got a bouncy ride and a straight-six or small V8, and that was it! Hard to believe, but here's the proof.

BMW Concept 1-Series tii to Make North American Debut in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:05:00 +0000

It debuted at the Tokyo motor show last October. Now, the BMW 1-Series concept that lit a magnesium fire in our naughty bits is coming to Chicago. Officially, it's the BMW Concept 1-Series tii; unofficially, it's several shades of Teutonic radness. Let me count the ways: It recalls the heady days of mid-period BMW road racing, evokes the original (E30) M3 and cribs its halo from the early '70s BMW 2002 tii. Sure, we found out last week one can accessorize one's way into a similar vee-hickle, but it's not quite this. Now we may even find out what the concept has under the hood. Special thanks to the Quandt family for stringing us along that much further. [via EDBMW]

2009 Chevrolet Camaro Fuel Door Location, Rear Light Colors Revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:00:00 +0000

These new photos of a disguised 2009 Chevy Camaro reveal for the first time the location of the fuel door in the right rear quarter panel. It had been rumored the gas cap would be upward facing, as on the concept. Also evident in these photos are amber turn signals in the rear fascia. These shots were taken in Australia, where that color turn signal lense is required, so US market Camaros could still feature all red rear lenses. [Via Camaro5.com]

Fifth Gear: BMW E92 M3 vs. MB C63 AMG

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Ferrari vs. Lamborghini

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:58:00 +0000

2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring Breaks Cover, Again

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:53:00 +0000

In case you haven't gotten enough of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring that debuted in Canada, or the slightly disguised one at last year's SEMA in Vegas, we've got the full skinny here. If you don't think they're aiming at the Mazda3 five-door just put your hand in front of the front quarter of the car and see what we see. And in case you didn't get it, they mention in the press release that the car is quieter inside than a, you guessed it, Mazda3.

Iron Man Super Bowl Commercial Shows Off Stark's Hot Garage

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:29:00 +0000

Apparently it's not just automakers like Hyundai and Chrysler with money to burn this Super Bowl Ad Watch weekend. Nope, it's also the movie industry -- it looks like Iron Man will be getting some love in a commercial airing this Sunday during the big game. Apparently, judging by this screen capture of the ad in question, we'll get some shots of Tony Stark spending some time testing his suit in a garage filled with all sorts of hot automobiles. We already knew about the Audi R8, but apparently Stark's also got himself a Cobra, a Saleen S7 and lookie-here, a Tesla roadster. Nice job, Stark -- now we know what the "Whitestar" project really was all about, don't we? That's right -- a hybrid powertrain for the Iron Man booster rockets. We knew it. Anyway, we'll have the official commercial up here online just as soon as it airs this weekend -- just follow along at our Super Bowl Ad Watch tag and feel free to hit the jump to make the shot above bigger than life.

GMC Denali XT Hybrid Concept Truck: The Caballero Is Back...In Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:25:00 +0000

This is it. It's called the GMC Denali XT Hybrid Concept Truck, and this unibody rear-wheel drive Australian professional grade car-truck action set to be unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show is making us excited in a way we haven't been since we saw the first episode of My Name Is Earl. And why shouldn't we be? Everyone knows the El Camino had a GMC version called the Sprint Caballero! GM, knowing of our love of all things car with a truck-bed allowed us, along with the fellow lovers of all things El Camino at PickupTruck.com, the opportunity to go behind the scenes in sunny Southern California for an exclusive with the design team and some one-of-a-kind photos of this unique Aussie import. When we accepted the invite to attend (at our own expense of course) we were expecting to see nothing more than a re-badged four-door Holden Crewman updated to the current VE architecture. Cool, but nothing more than what you'd expect from a leader in re-badging. Instead what we got was stunning, jaw-dropping and mind-blowing. So grab a shrimp off the Barbie above and settle in for the full story below the jump, mate!

2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, Spyder Unveiled Before Chicago Auto Show

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:22:00 +0000

The cover has been removed from the face-lifted 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse and the first thing you'll notice is the big Evo-inspired nose. On the GT you'll notice a new dual exhaust system which helps bump output of the 3.8L V6 a mind-blowing 2hp to the magical figure of 265hp. All those new ponies need to be reigned in some how, so Mitsu decided to give us some bigger rear brakes. While you're back there admiring the new pipes, take a peek at the new diffuser-style rear fascia too.

Nissan Pivo 2 Concept Car

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:19:00 +0000

Ahead of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11), Nissan unveils its electric-powered Pivo 2 concept car. Designed for urban use, the Pivo 2 features a 360-degree revolving cabin, inherited from the first-generation Pivo, allowing the driver to always face forward while driving, even when parallel parking, and to access the unique front door from any direction. The three-seat car is equipped with safety systems such as Around View Monitor (AVM), Distance Control …

How to draw a car in MS. Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Audi R8 Official Commercial 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:44:00 +0000

Car concepts...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Concept Cars!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Convert Your Car To Run On Water - Save Money, Save Gas!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:01:00 +0000

Convert your car to run on water – save gas, save your car, save money and save the planet.

Fox News recently broadcasted an interesting and very important video report.

A savvy automobile owner has come up with a very simple yet incredibly efficient way of boosting his old car’s gas mileage by up to 100% - that means several thousands of dollars economy every year.

The creator claims that his developed invention converts water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). Also called Brown's gas or Hydroxy burns better than regular gas at our fuel pumps and provides more energy. This process is often referred to as Hydrogen Fuel Cell conversion.

Gas prices are on constant rise and the fuel economy question is starting to get very serious. More hybrid cars are sold all over the world, concepts of electric cars and Hydrogen fuel cell cars are developed in almost any country and finally there is a way for you to add a little something to fuel efficient revolution.

Car owners seem to forget or maybe ignore the fact that they could get better gas mileage simply by changing the way they drive. You do not need to buy an ugly and slow prototype in order to save on gas. You could increase gas mileage of your V8 truck as well! To get better gas mileage you should follow these simple rules;

• Accelerate gently. This will use less gas.

• Keep your distance - every time you stop you will have to accelerate.

• Take your car to a mechanic; simple air filter change or spark plugs replacement could greatly increase gas mileage

• Drive slower. Going over 120kph will use up much more gas.

• Change gears as soon as possible - low gear uses up to 30% more fuel than needed.

Our cars’ engines are designed in such poor way that they only burn about 20% of the fuel – the other 80% is wasted in heat and unburned gas (pollution). When converted to money at 3$ a gallon – per every gallon your car actually uses only 60 cents, and 2.40$ is completely wasted. When you convert your car to run on water, you create a gas which helps burning the fuel in a better proportion.

Instructions on how to convert car to run on water are also available for sale on the Internet. There have been many skeptical people that do not believe in the efficiency of the system – but there doubts always vanish after finding out that the instructions come with 2 month full satisfaction money back guarantee.

Is it not only the “saving money” part that attracts people - when you convert your car to run on water you also increase your car’s engine longevity and you greatly decrease the pollution. The system allows you to burn gas more efficiently – which decreases the noise of the engine and the wear and tear of the motor’s parts.

The system is composed by simple parts that are basically bolted on the engine. It could be done at almost no cost, by anyone and to any car. The system is completely untraceable when taken off of the engine.

Just imagine yourself buying half the gas you are buying now! Wouldn’t it be nice to have an extra couple of thousand of dollars for Christmas presents? For a vacation? For a down payment on a new car?

I hope this article gave you enough of useful information to consider converting your car to run on water.

The Year Of The Cruiser

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:56:00 +0000

The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a typically American "retro"-styled station wagon or hatchback built by Chrysler, launched in 2000 as the entry-level Chrysler. Still a hot seller in its second season, the PT Cruiser got newly optional flame accent decals for the hood and front fenders. Famous for its retro looks, Chrysler's PT Cruiser combines this unmistakably classic look with modern performance, efficiency, and features. PT Cruiser's throwback design helps it stand out from the crowd while its ambitious engine helps you get away from one. During it's conception, PT stood for Personal Transportation, and the four-door Cruiser provided precisely that--plus a lot of enthusiastic responses from other motorists on the road. The PT Cruiser was on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2001 and won the North American Car of the Year award that year.

The PT Cruiser was originally meant to be a Plymouth, before Chrysler's merger with Daimler-Benz. The look was refined, and in 1998, another Plymouth concept called the Chrysler Pronto Cruizer directly previewed the styling of the PT Cruiser. The PT Cruiser also bears a resemblance in size and shape to the 1997 Chrysler CCV prototype.

Indeed, Chrysler specifically designed the PT Cruiser to fit the NHTSA criteria for a light truck in order to bring the average fuel efficiency of the company's light truck fleet into compliance with CAFE standards. Inside the PT Cruiser you'll find a spacious and versatile cabin with a retro-themed dash. While the body style remains remarkably consistent from year to year, there are actually multiple models of the PT Cruiser, designated by unique badges in the lower left hand corner of the rear lift-gate. The Chrysler PT Cruiser has good handling, fits in a small parking space, and holds full-sized adults and their luggage in comfort. The automatic transmission in Chrysler's PT Cruiser can only be used with Type 7176 transmission fluid.

For those who were shopping for a low-priced wagon or convertible that offers extra style and can handle a steady stream of passengers and cargo, the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser was definitely worth a look. The PT Cruiser convertible doesn't offer quite the utility as the wagon, but there is a pass-through from the trunk and the backseat is still plenty roomy for a pair of adults. The convertible version of Chrysler's 2008 PT Cruiser comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission but can be upgraded to a 4-speed automatic. The PT Cruiser Convertible was later discontinued on December 21, 2007 as part of Chrysler's owner, Cerberus Capital Management' plan to cut costs by discontinuing several Dodge and Chrysler models. Early Cruisers were recalled to add child seat information to the manuals.

Despite a post-redesign drop in sales, the PT Cruiser is the Chrysler brand's third best selling model, with 99,585 sales in 2007 and 138,650 sales in 2006. The 2008 PT Cruiser Convertible is a 2-door, 4-passenger convertible, available in one trim only, the Base. For hauling cargo, the wagon version of the PT Cruiser excels. Turbo-equipped Touring and Limited Cruisers come standard with the automatic, while the GT can take either a manual or automatic. The Chrysler PT Cruiser itself will be dropped after the 2009 model year, meaning that production will most likely stop in 2008.

The 2008 Jeep Renegade Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Sometimes a car company just wants to show off.

Bizarre, off the wall designs, over the top features and ridiculous power are some of the best ways to get all eyes on your product at one of the big international auto shows.

At this year’s Detroit Auto Show, it seems that in order to grab the most attention possible manufacturers are going green, and Chrysler is no exception.

The difference between this year and previous year’s offerings in the environmentally-friendly segment is that electric and hybrid cars are finally being styled with a little personality and outfitted with bit on oomph that makes them more than just accessories for the Sierra Club set.

The 2008 Jeep Renegade concept is a perfect example of this new trend. About the size of a Mini Cooper, the Renegade is the smallest off-road vehicle ever produced by Jeep, and is meant to target people who want to enjoy their 4 x 4 action with a clean ecological conscious.

To this end, Chrysler is offering several different engine options, all of them incorporating an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that is recharged by either a Bluetec diesel or a conventional gas engine when the charge drops below a certain level.

The electric motor makes 268 horsepower with the diesel adding another 110, impressive numbers for such a small vehicle. Jeep claims that 40 miles per charge is possible, and that in combination with the 1.5 liter diesel, the total range is 400 miles – more than enough to get you lost in the woods – and making fuel mileage approximately 110 miles per gallon.

The Jeep Renegade looks more like a dune buggy than a road-going car, with a chopped windshield, carved slots in the doors and no real roof.

It’s curves and aggressive stance suggest a futuristic Mars rover feel, and Jeep claims that the open interior makes it easy to hose out after a deep mud encounter. Of course, one could also argue that if the Renegade had a roof and the doors didn’t have holes in them there would be no need for a hose, but that is beside the point.

Will the Renegade ever be produced? It’s unlikely there is a large enough market for such a specialized vehicle, but given the range of electric vehicles shown by Chrysler at the show, it is almost certain that these technologies will begin to trickle down into more realistic products in the near future.