Thursday, November 4, 2010

Honda Vehicle 2010: fast-to-Drive

Honda Insight 2010 defines a recent stage during the evolution from hybrid technology, offering hybrid customers along allowing for a new level of affordability, fun-to-drive performance, plus a U.S.
EPA city/highway fuel-economy rating of 40/43 miles regarding gallon. The 2010 Honda Insight are going to be launched at Honda dealers throughout the united states in the beginning of April 2009 and is sufficient to be priced underneath the Civic Hybrid. "Honda hybrids suffer from necessarily accessible great value, high fuel efficiency and a healthy dose of amusing close to the middle value number in the Honda lineup," said John Mendel, government vice president of american Honda. "With the introduction
of the all-new Honda Insight, we're opening up Honda's
fun-to-drive, versatile and fuel-efficient hybrid technology to an
entirely new cluster of patrons which previously might no longer have
thought of a hybrid because of either symbol or cost."

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Best Vehicle Makers: 2010 Honda Component WALLPAPERS

href="http://www.carzunlimited.com/uploads/side-1/Car-Styles/783/20096214219_2009_HONDA_ELEMENT_1.jpg">

2010 Honda Element
PICTURES
href="http://cicip.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2010-honda-element-EX-SUV-front-side-view.jpg">

2010 Honda Element
PICS
href="http://www.automedia.com/New_Cars/Honda_Element_2010_Base_photos_SUV_Exterior_1_Front_Left_Blue.jpg">

2010 Honda Element
PHOTOS
href="http://www.airportmarinahonda.com/usr/image/vehicles/2010_honda_element.jpeg">

2010 Honda Element
IMAGES
href="http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2010/Honda/2010.honda.element.20313085-300x189.jpg">

2010 Honda Element
WALLPAPERS

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Car Artwork, plus my life...: Honda UMA






Some pictures from the semester's project.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

seasons: First plus Last: Kris Markovich


First plus Last
first pet… WEIMERANER NAMED SILKY
first automobile you owned… 1982 HONDA CIVIC, BOUGHT IT From GATOR
first trick you learned… BOMB DROP
first shredder you looked up to… NATAS KAUPAS
first contest you won… INNERLIGHT CONTEST IN His or her or him PARKING
LOT
first person to call after you win the lottery… AMY MARKOVICH
first skate park you rode… KONA
first arrange (skateboard)… Certain GRIP BLASTER
first concert… KISS After i used to be FOUR
first factor you are doing during the morning… YAWN
first massive purchase… CAR FROM GATOR
first sponsor… VENTURE TRUCKS
first job… DOMINOS PIZZA For three DAYS
last thing you ate… TOOTSIE ROLL
last person you called… WIFE AMY Ten Minutes AGO
last text you sent… TO MY BUDDY JASON Concerning The simplest way HOT It looks
TODAY
last thing you carry out prior to journeying to bed… KISS MY WIFE
last previous point you said "last time… About which AFTERNOON After I PUSHED MY
NEPHEW UP THE HILL BY MY Own home IN HIS STROLLER
last concert… TURBONEGRO These IN ATLANTA Less than Somebody DRUGGED MY
DRINK And that i Was once FUCKED FOR THREE DAYS
last skate park you rode… A bunch up of PARK Every week AGO IN POTTSTOWN
PA.
last movie you watched… THE HUNTED Nowadays Whereas GUNNER WAS
ASLEEP
last close call… Persist WEEK BOMBING THE HILL BY MY HOUSE, BLEW THE
Forestall SIGN AND Virtually Were given HIT
last big purchase… A hoop FOR MY WIFE
last thing that surprised you… The quantity OF POOP IN GUNNERS DIAPER
YESTERDAY
last regret… NO REGRETS

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Thrifty Wifey: Doing the Laundry & Cooking Dinner could be the chunk up of cake

I simply desire to offer each one the legal different halves plus others as to the market a friendly reminder to cherish the affection within your life and once you begin to become frustrated by the small situations (housework, dishes, cooking, etc) remind yourself the great things they have a tendency to be doing which you simply may gain no longer necessarily realize. Readily available are just a nights I am getting frustrated and tired up from functioning all 24-hour interval and coming back home to cook dinner at night, maintaining the laundry, picking up once u. s. and the final dogs and there be afflicted by been times I just needed to scream at hubby for not serving to.   Less than in recent times I've really started to facilitate give it some thought and notice things in an exceedingly recent attitude.... - My husband took up his entire weekend to give me my vehicle back. Did he have to? No, really we have a tendency to could of long past allowing for one car for awhile. But he took his entire Saturday and Sunday to decide my car on behalf of me and never once complained. - Each and every morning he gets up and generally is gone prior to I discover of the the shower, but he always incorporates a fresh pot of coffee determined for me thus it has got brewed and in a position by the point I get out. - If he needs to head back to work genuine early prefer he does at times, not solely does he set the coffee timer but he also decisions to wake me up and change certain I get up (I carry out not wake up with alarms, not sure the approach I wake up with the phone) - I drive the hot car and he drives my ancient Honda Accord because he necessities me to be forced a reliable and constant vehicle. - He does not care something concerning Valentines day but our Marriage Anniversary suggests that the planet to her and he remembers the date of our first date and after we officially started dating, dates that I will not additionally do not forget. So you are aware... my
hubby would possibly not do much PDA (public displays of affection) and he doesn't cook dinner or scrub the lavatories. But he presentations his adore for
me in such a lot of alternative paths and therefore creates doing the laundry and
washing the dishes no massive deal at all.....

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Inside Track Breaking News Blog: LUTZ Plus EVERSLEY Achieve The legal ...

(Leeds, AL) -- Compass360 Racing team-mates Zach Lutz plus Ryan Eversley bounced back from unhappiness at Miami in March along allowing for a robust effect at the gorgeous Barber Motorsports Park as to the outskirts up of Birmingham, Alabama. The couple assembled on Lutz's fifth-place qualifying and stayed close to the leaders throughout the race, bringing the #75 JC Concrete Honda Civic Si home in third place, simply ahead of the team's #74 Skunk2/Honda HPD automobile in fourth.
The outcome marks the pair's better result during the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. "I'm so satisfied. It has just unimaginable," enthused Lutz. "The team gave united states a brilliant car and which we tend to had an incredible pit prevent. (Technical Director) Ray referred to as the tactic perfectly. Once the blow-up in Florida, about that could be still astounding and just what we needed. Currently we're back in the championship hunt!" Meanwhile, current championship leaders David Thilenius and Lawson Aschenbach managed to increase his or him or her lead by two points, to ten ahead of the #80 Bimmerworld BMW. "This is concerning the ideal shall we are hoping for," explained Aschenbach. "We just did no longer suffer from the pace of the little Mazda these days, and it appeared just favor the Seventy-five used to be functioning a little touch better at the finish of the race, so we'll take fourth and hope to be back on the box at VIR." Jesse Combs and Greg Liefooghe brought their #77 Coolgas/Exclusive Management Civic across the line in 14th, keeping that car in the top-five in points. Marv Weidner, constructing his series debut with the team, was in an excellent position at hand , his #76 Honda to team-mate and fellow rookie Alex Kirby after he was tagged from in the dirt by a lapped car. Fortunately unhurt, Weidner was nonetheless disappointed. "The guys were just great and helped me attain up to hurry temporarily. The automobile was such a heap amusing to drive and that i carry out be familiar with Alex would have done a great job. It's tricky when somebody who is the handful of laps down wrecks your race, less than I is sufficient to be back in an orange Honda soon!" The team's returned to its Toronto base to correct and decided the vehicles up for the following race on April Twenty-fourth at Virginia Global Raceway. "There's not lots of your previous point between these races, so I know we'll be busy repairing the wear and tear and making a handful of new enhancements," reflected Team Principal Karl Thomson. "But as necessarily, we'll be ready." The Barber race are going to be broadcast on April Seventeenth at 3:00pm on SPEED. Compass360 Racing (C360R) is the motorsports division of Compass360 Branding Communications, a firm providing promotional experience to purchasers in diverse industries across North America. The Championship-winning race team, with support from Honda of America, fields four front-running Honda Civic Si's in Grand-Am's KONI Challenge, in addition to cars in Canadian Touring Car. For main points
move to http://c360r.com/.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Honda Fan Club: Honda reveals hydrogen-powered sports automobile concept

Currently manufacturing simply one single carrying product, the legal engineers at Honda have a tendency to be manifestly eager to infuse pretty much everything in his or her model lineup together allowing for a amount up of sporting character. From the tenacious Honda Civic Si to the recent, added powerful Acura TL, they suffer from taken a page from Ford's ancient "Total Performance" book by striking a high priority on automobile dynamics across the line. Plus which comes with taking the identical approach in also the the majority of unexpected direction. Shocking the masses at the los angeles Auto Display, the FC Sport concept showcases what Honda's performance engineers are ready to carry out to the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity sedan's powertrain. "The Honda FC Sport explores the way to fulfill automotive performance enthusiasts during a worldwide beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of american Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who adore sports vehicles could be sufficient to continue to have a reason why to like in a hydrogen-powered long term." A different three-seater layout, go on utilized during the long-lasting McLaren F1, reportedly facilitates the utilization of a modular hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, permitting a diminish centre of gravity and superior aerodynamics. Packaging nearly each one the hydrogen and electrical systems between the axles is helping maintain a balanced weight distribution, nonetheless, the placement of the FC Sport-specific high output hydrogen fuel stack between the back seats has got certain crash customary technicians scratching their heads though to the concept's viability as a production model.

From the rear read a couple of fuel storage tanks is visible from on top of, whereas the uniquely styled front finish hides the electrical drive motors. And no, you will not be turning all or any wrenches on about that little pocket rocket inside your own garage.

Aerodynamically, the FC Sport borrows heavily from the teachings learned by Honda's resident F1 team (and painful lessons they've been). Barge boards split the air ahead of the front wheels, while a series of hex paperwork at the vehicle's rear own home the radiators, keeping the powertrain within operating temperatures. And whilst Honda claims the Glacier White paint "conveys the FC Sport's blank environmental aspirations while the dark wheels and deeply tinted glass provide a symbolic distinction befitting of the vehicle's distinctive aggregate of clean power and serious performance," we will not facilitate less than ponder whether it was once not chosen simply because it appearance cool. In either case, Honda's press materials come with a couple citations of the word "supercar," which ends up in a bunch of awfully attention-grabbing questions. Completely devoid of specifications, on hand is no speculation on the vehicle's performance figures, and whilst the canopied cockpit, strange seating layout, and entirely NHTSA-unfriendly bodywork might have lots of critics screaming "crazy concept," there could also be a grain of truth in Honda's desire to generate a viable hydrogen-powered sports coupe.

Release from Honda

The FC Sport emphasizes the planning flexibility and potential of Honda's V Flow fuel cell technology - already deployed in the Honda FCX Clarity sedan - and reconfigures it back to a light-weight sports vehicle artwork with an ultra-low center of gravity, powerful electrical motor performance and zero-emissions.

The design find out about concept is electrified by supercar levels of performance through occasional weight and a high-performance, electrically driven fuel cell powertrain.

"The Honda FC Sport explores the simplest way to satisfy automotive performance enthusiasts in a global beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future."

The high-output Honda fuel cell powertrain and a smooth, aerodynamic body make a contribution to the vehicle's performance potential.
A modular approach to fuel cell component packaging and the final
electric drivetrain contribute to the FC Sport's low center of
gravity with the majority of auto mass distributed between the
axles, creating the balanced weight distribution sought after in
sports cars.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Free Automobile Service Manuals: download Honda Prelude 1988 - 1991 ...


The third generation Prelude (released in 1987 in Japan plus a
little later in a handful of markets) used to be identical to the legal 2nd one generation,
nevertheless it gained four wheel direction on some models.


download Honda Prelude 1988 - 1991 Repair Manual


Download
right click >> avoid wasting as


Sunday, March 21, 2010

..::The Vehicle Art | Car News & Car Reviews | Initial Drives & Car ...

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2010 BF-performance Gallardo
GT600
Swiss tuning corporate BF-performance suffer from developed a sequence from
upgrades plus modifications for the legal Gallardo LP560-4.

Continue >>

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

blog-newscar.Co.CC: Toyota Aygo Vehicle Yaris LPG

Small own home Toyota could be added Ecological. In Italian official listing was once inserted GPL version from Toyota Yaris plus Toyota Aygo The legal supermini's greatest promoting Japanese automobile. Both manned by an engine fueled allowing for either petrol or LPG, One.0 three-cylinder and Sixty-eight hp. Don't forget the super technology Toyota Optimal Drive. Favor different ecological automobiles with the identical power, which could be the tactic ecosostenibile: Diminish energy consumption for lower emissions. Toyota Aygo intend to be sold at a beginning cost of 9950 euro for the 1.0 version with Three ports currently that, up to Eleven,400 euro for the 1.0 to five Approach Soul. As for his beloved Toyota Yaris, even though, the price up of 11,400 euros of the 1.0 with 3 doors now that to Thirteen,550 euro for the 1.0 to 5 Way Sol Really rates with broad accessibility, the ones of Japanese cabbie. You apprehend it? Let's now that speak of consumption and emissions: Toyota Aygo LPG unable to stroll virtually Sixteen kilometers as to one liter of fuel in combined cycle and emits One hundred one g / km dioxide. A whole tank of LPG shall price concerning Twenty euros with which you'll be ready to canopy more in comparison to just Five hundred km. between complete autonomy Gasoline and gas; you can cover a bunch of 1500 km. For the Yaris the figures tend to be slightly retouched with fewer autonomy and a couple grams of emissions more. Nada alarming though: Yaris GPL covers Fourteen.3 kilometers regarding liter with 113 g / km emissions carbon dioxide, with add autonomy petrol / LPG of one,400 km. The two cars shall be legally presented about that Open Weekend (6-7 March) at the dealerships. A curiosity: the installation of LPG
Aygo and Yarer, engineered beneath the close guidance of engineers
Toyota, is realized by Landi Renzo.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Audi R8 Spyder once more in Iron Man 2?

The Audi R8 Spyder appears at 2:10 from the recent Iron Man 2 trailer below:
Tony Stark possesses absolutely no shortage of exotic vehicular toys at his disposal. Plus which we tend to aren't additionally counting that complete Iron Man robotic suit - he currently has four! - he helps to back allowing for him or her
all the get older. Readily available could be a scene at the Circuit de Monaco, a marginally different Formula-something race with Tony Stark in the dust the wheel of one of the race vehicles, and a clear-as-day shot of the new Audi R8 Spyder. Also, there is hundreds and plenty of Scarlett Johansson, too.
It kind of feels that Audi once more appeared again on about that new movie Iron Man 2. I'm hoping it have a tendency to be going to be sensible or better compared to the initial.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Where could be my flying platform? The legal damn situations were perfected in 1956... what happened to them?

Hey! It has were given wheels, plus which I am now not compromising my standards! Who knew I may gain stretch an "Anything cool allowing for wheels" philosophy thus a lot and wide? You can realize the legal attention-grabbing tanker during the diminish left corner, need to be afflicted by been detached from a semi truck? from the LIFE archives.
For the second flying saucers that they constructed in the 1950's appear
at these three
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/02/proof-that-man-can-design-flying.html

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

First Look: 2011 Nissan Micra

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn unveiled the company's all-new Micra these days at the 2010 Geneva motor display. Even though the Micra itself is sufficient to now not be coming back to America, it looks constructed on an all-new international small-car platform referred to currently inside Nissan because the V-platform. "This new platform adjustments everything," boasted Ghosn throughout the press conference. "Our next compact vehicles have a tendency to be during the pipeline.
During the past, Nissan had a minimal presence in the compact segment because we have a tendency to did not be afflicted by a particular platform suited to the ones customers' desires. Now we are thus going to be ready to compete, plus at the terribly best level. Our new lineup up of compact cars will facilitate to building up Nissan's global market presence up of 80% today to 94% in 2012." Versatility is the chief to Nissan's small-car strategy -- and, for which matter, the V-platform itself. The architecture will spawn a minimum of three different products for Nissan's ever-expanding global stage, and will be in-built four plants spread around the globe: India, Thailand, China, and Mexico. That lovely a lot tells you each one you have to learn concerning where Nissan hopes to sell little cars. Indeed, Nissan sources determine that both and every of these four plants will be fed by a locally-sourced supply chain that would keep production simple and inexpensive, crucial factors for profitability in the razor-thin profit margins that small cars command. Nissan will not continue building the Micra in England, less than Europe is still an significant marketplace for its subcompact providing. Nissan additionally released small print pertaining to the European-spec vehicle today, which will at last succeed in dealers later about that autumn. Cosmetically, the hot Micra is the smaller amount radical in comparison to the outgoing model, eschewing the "bubble-on-bubble" aestethic in favor of a rounded, added conservative appear. The interior is in a identical fashion rounded, and shares several portions (the door pulls, direction wheel, and climate controls, for instance) allowing for the Cube. Customary in each Euro-spec Micra is a 80-hp, 1.2-liter inline three-cylinder engine, mated either through a five-speed manual gearbox or Nissan's (seemingly omnipresent) continually-variable transmission. If that might not enough power, a supercharged shape of the identical engine also will be out there, manufacturing simply below 100 hp. More importantly, the supercharged engine is fitted along with a stop/start system, permitting it to generate solely Ninety-five grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometer driven. What engines can we get? Perhaps a better question is what car will we receive? Our sources within Nissan are not asserting, but they confirm that we will be ready to locate a bunch of version of the Micra for America, but with completely different styling. One assumes therefore the handsome small Micra would be deemed too rather like our existing Versa. But the Versa is so uninteresting, we would feel free if the
Micra just replaced it, kind of frankly.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

First Look: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

The F01/F02 BMW 7 Series-based Alpina B7, plus could be the legal reason going to build its North American debut at the 2010 Chicago display, is the hottest providing up from the Bavarian factory-supported BMW tuner (Alpinas have a tendency to be sold at BMW dealers and covered by BMW warranties) and is merely the second one B7 to be obtainable during the U.S. Underhood, BMW's 4.4L, twin-turbo V-8 is still beneath the distinctive Alpina engine canopy, less than allowing for new pistons, enlarged intercoolers, and a Fourteen.5-psi max spice up pressure, the mill produces 500-hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque -- the latter projects on faucet at 3000 rpm. For the ones keeping score, which is One hundred fifteen hp regarding liter, and a worthy improvement over the 750i's Four hundred hp and 450 lb-ft. About that newfound power, Alpina claims, is enough to propel the rear-drive B7 to Sixty mph in 4.5 seconds. However acceleration plays but a little touch phase. In the handling office, angling for a neutral experience at the back the wheel, Alpina has got fitted shorter is derived, dropping ride height by 0.6 inches front and zero.4 inches rear. The B7 also brands make use of of BMW's Dynamic Damping Management and Active Roll Stabilization, offering three setups: Comfort, Ordinary, and Sport. Both environment has effects on pieces simply prefer the suspension, power direction resistance, dampening, and throttle solution. Throw the Alpina six-speed automatic back to sport mode, and shifts take a "few hundred milliseconds" once commanded by buttons on the back of the steering wheel. Alpina wraps Michelin PS2 tires, measuring 245/35 front and 285/30 rear, around its unique 21-in wheels. New front and back splitters compliment the rolling stock, and Alpina claims lessen front raise 30% and rear by 15%. The revised fascia also integrates multiple engine and transmission coolers. With the performance components decided, Alpina turned to the interior, adding illuminated doorsills, hand-stitched leather to the steering wheel, and Myrtle Burl trim, which a wooden unique to the B7 and the overall Pacific Coast. Piano Lacquer interior trim is optional. You will notice Alpina emblems on the higher seatbacks, on the LCD cluster, and on a plaque fastened on the ---------------- roof panel just ahead of the sunroof. The same ancient allotment of seven Series exterior
colours are on the market, though is Alpina's signature blue metallic.

Friday, July 3, 2009

REPORT: Opel to cut prices 40% in order to save jobs?



Sometimes deals get made, and then the dealmakers have to employ some pretty creative tactics to get the terms to work. Magna's deal for Opel included taking €1.5 billion in short term loans from the German government, the string attached being that Magna had to guarantee German jobs.

Saving jobs means selling more cars to maintain production levels, and outside observers are suggesting that Opel would need to cut prices by 40% to move enough metal to keep people on the lines. Of course, a 40% drop in prices makes profit almost impossible, and some are saying Magna doesn't care about profits right now. One analyst said Magna and GM might want to increase costs, since Magna would sell more parts and GM would get more royalties. That, however, seem like the wilder side of speculation.

Magna has said the 40% discount hypothesis is absurd. Magna's mandate was to save German jobs -- that doesn't mean other Opel or Vauxhall factories in other countries can't be shuttered. Such a discount would also bring competing automakers into the debate; they would need to fight battles both on the dealer lot and with their government lobbyists, who would question Opel's right to sell cheap cars with government assistance.



[ Bloomberg ]
[ Tag: discount, europe, factories, magna, opel, plants, sberbank, unions, vauxhall ]

Thursday, February 5, 2009

British Bailout: UK gives ?2.3B to domestic auto industry

When the U.S. domestic auto industry asked its government for billions of dollars in loans, it made world-wide news. Many other foreign nations have pitched in with funding for their own industries, as well. The UK has just gotten in on the act by promising ?2.3 billion for the cause, with ?1 billion in direct government loans and another ?1.3 billion from the European Investment Bank. The UK government is promising its citizens that the loans are "no blank check" for the ailing industry. Hmm.. where have we heard that before? The British government deemed its auto industry worth saving, mentioning that up to one million citizens count on auto jobs for income. Similar to the U.S. loan deal, the British government is looking to develop a national strategy for greener, cleaner motoring.
?2.3 billion sounds like a lot of cash (about $3.2 billion USD), but some industry insiders don't think the loans go far enough. Union leader Tony Woodley claims that nearly half of the money will need to go to Vauxhall, a subsidiary of General Motors, and Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by India-based Tata, and that the cash infusion will do little to aid the hundreds of suppliers that are hurting just as badly.
[ Times Online ]
[ Tag: Auto industry, AutoIndustry, Bailout, great britain, GreatBritain, UK ]

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Opinion: What should happen to Saturn, Vauxhall and Opel during GM's reorganization?


Amidst all the recent bailout talk, one question being asked is what role GM's Opel division will serve in a new-and-hopefully-improved General Motors. More succinctly, will Vauxhall and Saturn soldier on unchanged or will they simply fade into automotive landscape? Automotive News seems to think the question of Opel and how it relates to Vauxhall and Saturn is so important that it's worth devoting three separate editorials to the issue, with varying levels of clarity.
Richard Truett maintains that shuttering Saturn would be a "monumental mistake that would alienate many of the most loyal buyers GM has," but thinks that "Saturn fans would be cool with a transition to Opel." We think that the cars might be well-received by Saturn buyers, but that the prices need to be more budget-minded and that the overall focus of the brand needs a thorough work-over. Some Autobloggers believe that shutting down Saturn altogether would be a mistake, while some are in favor of doing away with the brand as soon as possible. Regardless of where on that fence our staffers sit, we all expressed doubt that changing the name to Opel in the U.S. would serve any constructive purpose. Clearly, if it is going to keep Saturn, GM needs to show more support for the brand, as evidenced by the Malibu/Aura situation.
So what about killing off Vauxhall, which is essentially a UK-only rebadge of Opel? Well, here we see some dissent as well. Wim Oude Weernink says that the nameplate is superfluous and thinks GM should be reduced to just Cadillac, Opel and Chevrolet worldwide. That would leave GM with premium, near-premium, and mainstream lineups, placing it in line with other successful automakers like Toyota and Ford.
Colleague Mark Appleton, on the other hand, thinks it would be stupid to kill off Vauxhall. He argues that the General should keep the storied British marque, pointing out that there is no competition between Vauxhall and Opel and that the existing line-up would be very costly to replace with a brand that has never been successful in the UK. It's much like the Saturn/Opel equation except Saturn isn't as old, by a long shot.
This author thinks that Saturn could survive and possibly thrive as a rebadged Opel line, but recent history proves otherwise. The success of Vauxhall shows that the formula can work in other markets and now that smaller, more fuel-efficient Euro cars are gaining a foothold in the States, Saturn would be an ideal brand to market Opel's wares to American buyers who want to feel like they are ahead of the curve. And the same philosophy could be applied to Ford, with Mercury getting an infusion of the Blue Oval's Euro models.
It's expensive to shut down dealerships and to change brands, and the added cost of marketing a new or unfamiliar marque is considerably more expensive than manufacturing extra badges. So keeping Vauxhall and Saturn but streamlining the offerings and manufacturing some of the cars here could help bring jobs to America and stabilize prices when the dollar and euro (or pound) are going in opposite directions. Of course there are still some who think Saturn should just die already, but Alex is always cranky after a Knight Rider liveblog, and we don't know what to make of Paukert just yet. What say you?
[ Automotive News ]
[ Tag: bailout, gm bailout, gm bankruptcy, GmBailout, GmBankruptcy, opel, reorganization, restructuring, vauxhall ]

Thursday, December 25, 2008

2010 Audi S4


Right car, wrong timing? At a glance, it would seem that way. The new Audi S4 arrives in the midst of a global economic slump. It was unveiled in October at the Paris show, where hybrids and electric vehicles stole the limelight, and it unashamedly advertises the motto Vorsprung durch Technik (Advancement through Technology) when everybody is talking low emissions and high mileage. Look closer, though, and the new S4 emerges as a surprisingly sensible proposition. It is expected to cost about the same as the car it replaces and it bristles with torque, yet it should deliver about 24 mpg overall (EPA figures haven't yet been released). At the same time, it's a tour de force that employs trick steering, chassis, and driveline setups to beam you from point A to point B quicker than some of its rivals.But who, exactly, are these rivals? Audi identifies them as the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, but the 333-hp S4 falls between BMW's 300-hp 335i and the 414-hp M3. It also falls between the 268-hp Mercedes C350 and the 451-hp C63. The upcoming RS4 sedan and RS5 coupe, which both should get about 450 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque from Audi's 4.2-liter V-8, likely will arrive in 2010. For now, though, the highest-performance version of the new A4 is the S4. It won't go on sale in America until fall 2009 as a 2010 model and then only in sedan form: farewell, ultra-low-volume S4 wagon and convertible.A comparison of the basic engine specs of the old S4 and the new car does not bode well: only six cylinders instead of eight, 3.0 liters of displacement instead of 4.2 liters, 333 hp instead of 340 hp. Are we getting shortchanged here? We are not. Maximum torque, that crucial parameter for drivability, increases from 302 to 325 lb-ft, and it is now available between 2900 and 5300 rpm rather than peaking at 3500 rpm. And although the curb weight is about the same, Audi claims that the new S4 surges from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, outsprinting the old S4 by about half a second.While most supercharged engines develop their sweet spot between 3500 and 5000 rpm, the direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 shoots fireworks all the way to its 7000-rpm redline. It thus combines the low-end torque of a force-fed engine with the top-end energy of a high-revving, normally aspirated one. The result? Enough power to rocket the S4 from 50 to 75 mph in only about 4.5 seconds in fourth gear, says Audi.The seven-speed version of Audi's dual-clutch S tronic transmission, which makes its U.S. debut in the S4, is definitely the gearbox to go for, although a six-speed manual is standard. The main advantage of the dual-clutch arrangement is, of course, the totally seamless torque delivery, which helps maintain momentum during gearchanges. In auto mode, the system can be outfoxed by certain borderline situations, such as aborted overtaking maneuvers or a sudden shift of driving style, but the chips learn fast, and the fluency of the S tronic never ceases to amaze.

Monday, December 1, 2008

GM UK takes two Top Gear awards


As much as Jeremy Clarkson complains about fat, uncool Americans and their crudely-made, overweight cars, General Motors managed to come out on top in two categories in Top Gear's annual awards.
If you said the Corvette ZR1 was a winner, you'd be totally correct. The 638-hp supercar was a shoo-in to win over the Top Gear team, just as we guessed when they were caught driving at at the Bonneville Salt Flats earlier this year. Chevrolet's baddest Vette ever sped off with top honors in Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year category.
The second award winner won't be quite as easy to guess, mostly because it's not sold in the U.S. Top Gear's Executive Car of the Year is the Vauxhall Insignia which is based on GM's Epsilon II platform. The magazine likes the car's looks and technology. We won't bother predicting whether we'll see it here eventually. For that to happen, Saturn will need to be around, and right now, we'll have to wait and see what happens on that front.

[ Tag: corvette, corvette zr1, CorvetteZr1, insignia, jeremy clarkson, JeremyClarkson, top gear, top gear magazine, TopGear, TopGearMagazine, vauxhall insignia, VauxhallInsignia, zr1 ]