Apr 26
Volvo Aims for Zero Accidents
Apr 26
KW automotive is now offering KW anti-sway bars to put the finishing touches to suspension kits of the product line KW clubsport and make it more competitive on the racing track.
KW anti-sway bars make the precision adjustment of vehicle behaviour possible, reduce body rolling through greater stiffness and provide increased stability. Improved handling, [...]
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Apr 26
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 638 hp confirmed!
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Apr 26
Filed under: Concept Cars, Sports/GTs, Supercars, BMW
Click above to see more photos at Asphalte.ch
This year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este has its public day tomorrow, which is when the world will get its first look at the new BMW M1 concept, a stunning, modern take on Munich's original supercar that is part of Bimmer's 30th anniversary celebration of the classic machine. The private exhibition took place today, however, and the guys at Asphalte.ch -- they were the first with live shots of the Lamborghini LP560-4 earlier this year -- have once again scored a coup, snapping the new, copper-colored M1 concept in all its glory, both alone and alongside its forebears. We expect to have a lot more on this car tomorrow, but for now, head to Asphalte.ch to see more shots of the car under the lights. Hey BMW, just pull the trigger and greenlight a production version already, because this thing is awesome.
[Source & Photo: Asphalte.ch]
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Apr 26
Filed under: Misc. Auto Shows
We're proud as peacocks of our blogging brothers at Autoblog Chinese who, in blogging parlance, tore the 2008 Beijing Motor Show a new one. We showed you just a sampling of the dozens of cars they covered at the show, as the team from China truly left no rotating turntable unturned. If you want even more Auto China 2008 coverage, just click on one of four wrap-up pages below and don't stop until you've seen every clone, concept and production car that was unveiled in Beijing last week. You may not be able to understand the language they're speaking, but the pictures more than get the point across.
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 1
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 2
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 3
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 4
Our favorites of the show were the Buick Invicta Concept, Geely Tiger GT Concept, Beijing 700R Concept and Honda's Li Nian Concept.
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Apr 26
Filed under: Biodiesel, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, European Union, USA
The lawsuits and complaints in the green car industry are flying about non-stop these days. Porsche vs. London. Tesla vs. Fisker. Michael Papp’s troubles. State-based emissions and fuel economy regulations in the U.S. Here’s yet another to add to the list: The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) vs. American biodiesel producers.
According to the Northern Echo, the EBB has filed a complaint with the European Commission that claims that U.S. biodiesel poses unfair competition to inter-EU producers and asked for duties to be paid on imports of B99. The problem, the EBB says, is that American producers get U.S. subsidies when they make the biofuel and then also get European subsidies when they export it to Europe. In the Northern Echo’s example, U.S. biodiesel is sold for half as much as domestic biodiesel in the UK.
[Source: Northern Echo]
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Apr 26
Venturi Fetish EV will get more power
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Apr 26
GM has seen plenty of tough times over the past few years, and even the company's top executives have felt the pinch. Executive pay was among the items cut as the General waded through multi-billion-dollar losses and immense market pressure, but after two years of cuts, the members of GM's top brass are getting their old salaries back. Top boss Rick Wagoner's base pay went as "low" as $1.1M but is now back to its 2003 level of $2.2M. Product czar Bob Lutz and money man Fritz Henderson also had their pay restored, and Fritz even got a raise to reflect his promotion to COO. Many of the pay cuts were voluntary in recognition of GM's market struggles, but even with the cuts in base pay, overall executive pay packages are worth a lot more than just the salaries alone. Wagoner, for example, was paid $14.4M in 2007, while Maximum Bob came in at $6.9M.
[Source: Auto News (subs. req'd)]
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Apr 26
Incorrect tire pressure is responsible for the production of an additional 18.4 metric tons of CO2 which end up in the atmosphere each year. This is one of the findings in a report by the FIA (International Automobile Federation) and Bridgestone partnership. We can translate the figure in to wasted fuel as well: about 8 billion liters of fuel wasted per year. Moreover, 55 million tires per year are thrown away because of premature wear and tear due to incorrect pressure. For instance, when running at 90 km/h (60 mph) a car with tire pressure that is 1 bar below the recommended figure burns from one to three percent more fuel.
[Source: Bridgestone via Europa Press]
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Apr 26
Filed under: SUVs, Etc., Dodge, Driving
Dodge's marketing slogan is "grab life." Apparently, the message has resonated with the youth demo in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, where a 7-year-old swiped grandma's car keys and commandeered her Durango while she was unawares. He subsequently played demolition derby on the streets of the Florida enclave. His eight-minute joyride saw him take out a pair of mailboxes, hit two parked cars in a Costco parking lot, and then two more moving vehicles at an intersection before he drove into a street sign and broke the right front wheel off the truck, ending his impromptu cruise through the neighborhood. Miraculously, no one was hurt throughout all this. The obvious quote of the day comes from PBG police officer Ellen Lovejoy, who noted that the kid's actions constituted "unusual behavior for a seven-year old." Maybe he was just getting himself amped up for this week's impending Grand Theft Auto IV release.[Source: Palm Beach Post]
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Apr 26
Partners tender is here because we poverty to inform and exhibit you the stylish programme most cars and to attain them as famous as possible. So be trusty to analyse them discover before you yield this page.
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Apr 26
The 2008 Toyota Tundra truck underscores that message as a half-ton truck with full-sized proportions and a fully boxed frame. When it was completely redesigned in 2007, Tundra became larger and more powerful.
An optional V-8 engine ensures it has the muscle to run with the big dogs, too. Tundra is also notable for good road manners, an interior that offers ample passenger space and a load of useful features.
A choice of three cabs are available: the Regular Cab, the Double Cab and the CrewMax. Double Cab offers an extended cab with four forward-hinged doors, while CrewMax is an oversized crew cab.
A choice of three engines enables this second-generation Tundra to respond to all types of transportation needs.
A 4.0-liter V-6 that generates 236 horsepower is standard on the Regular Cab and shorter-bed Double Cab. Optional on those models and standard on all other Tundras is a 4.7-liter V-8 that makes 271 horsepower.
A separate engine optional for all Tundras is a 5.7-liter V-8 that produces 381 horsepower. Tundra has been named a 2008 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It was singled out for recognition for high-quality performance in front, side, rear and stability control testing.
The 2008 Toyota Tundra prices range from about $23,000 for a two-door Regular Cab with a V-6 engine to upwards of $43,000 for a four-door CrewMax with a V-8. Tundras also are covered by a 36-month/36,000-mile basic warranty.
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Apr 26
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA
Is there a new three-wheeled highway-capable electric car about to emerge from “stealth mode”? We believe so and we have the video to prove it. As our faithful readers well know, we have been following the lengthy development of other three-wheeled vehicles like the Aptera and the VentureOne very closely as they are being prepared to enter the market. We haunt their forums, dig through their dumpsters monitor their websites and read their press releases. However, the Triac, like the mythical Planet X approaching the Earth from the South pole in time to wreak disaster on December 21st of the Mayan calender time-ending year of 2012, seems to be appearing out of nowhere and may be about to make a huge splash as it enters the orbit of the electric car-craving American public. At least it is if we are to believe the claims made in the commercial that we dug up on YouTube.
Here is what we know. Ehab Youssef got tired of choking on ZAP vapor, took matters into his own hands and is now about to show them how it’s done. His company, Green Vehicles (which recently moved from their retail Los Gatos location to a larger San Jose space according to a report in the Los Gatos Observer), will be offering a 144V lithium ion-powered vehicle (most likely sourced from China but with some work done here) capable of 70 mph with a 120 mile range, with tandem seating starting at $19,995. Although the video states “Available now”, there has not been an official announcement on their website yet but we expect one any day and will keep you posted. In the mean time, hit the jump to check out the slick commercial for this up-coming little beastie. As a bonus you can also see a video of a NEV that Green Vehicles will also be selling.
[Source: YouTube]
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Apr 26
Filed under: Chrysler, Misc. Auto Shows
The folks at Chrysler have proven that they know how to make a BIG splash when debuting a new production vehicle or concept car. They've driven a Jeep through a plate glass window... twice; showered the automotive press with so much confetti that we were pooping paper for a week; employed clowns, bands and B-list celebrities up the wazoo; and at the most recent Detroit Auto Show in January, drove a herd of cattle up the street for the debut of the new 2009 Dodge Ram. All of these big debuts are meant to attract media attention, and that they do very well. But the word from Chrysler LLC CEO Robert Nardelli is that the party's over. Going forward, Chrysler will tone down its debuts to focus on the products and save a bit of coin by nixing the big-budget theatrics. Sources inside Chrysler note that Nardelli and his right-hand man Jim Press aren't into the pyrotechnics, confetti and glass-breaking debuts that have made Chrysler press conferences famous in the past. We can't help but thinking that the recent departure of Jason Vines from the Vice President of Communications position has something to do with this. Vines was a funny man and knew how to become the center of attention in a crowded room, which is exactly what these sort of press conferences accomplished. Hopefully Chrysler decides not to nix Happy Hour at the Firehouse after the Detroit Auto Show press days, as well. We can live without fireworks, but not free beer.
[Source: Chrysler Weblog]
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Apr 26
Filed under: Toyota, Legislation and Policy
One of the most contentious issues in the discussion of how to wean ourselves off oil is fuel taxes. In spite of the campaign contributions that politicians get from car makers, when push come to shove on efficiency they get the short end of the stick. That’s because in this country almost any politician that even hints at raising taxes on anything will get crucified by anti-tax lobbyists. So even though higher fuel prices (through taxes) will drive demand for more efficient vehicles, politicians find it more expedient to mandate higher efficiency from car makers regardless of what consumers might be demanding.
During the debate over CAFE standards most of the automaker representatives have repeatedly said the gas taxes should go up along with the efficiency mandates. If that happens they will have no problem selling more efficient vehicles. However, you rarely - if ever - heard that reported in the media, although we have written about it here numerous times. Now, Toyota is openly asking the question at the Open Road Blog. They want to know what people really think about gas taxes. What do you think?
[Source: Toyota]
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Apr 26
Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen
Click the Jetta’s for a high-res gallery
We’re on site here at VIRginia International Speedway for the very first race of the inaugural Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup and qualifying has just concluded. VIR is a gorgeous natural terrain road course in the hills along the border between Virginia and North Carolina and it offers plenty of great vantage points. During the thirty minute session 29 of the 30 drivers posted valid qualifying times with a 4 second spread from first to last. Twenty-three year old Josh Hurley of Cooper City FL came out on the top of the timing sheet with a best lap 2:14.301 (Yes I know that’s not Hurley’s Oakley sponsored car in the photo, but I didn’t manage to catch one of Hurley. These cars are seriously fun to watch on the track and anyone who remembers watching the early 80s GTIs cornering on three wheels will feel right at home with the Jettas as they hike up the inside rear on tight turns. Like their big brothers the Audi R10s the Jettas are remarkably quiet as they circulate the track. The race cars have the same exhaust system that will be on the production Jetta TDI that launches this summer including the NOx trap and particulate filter. You can check out a video clip after the jump.
Gallery: VIR Jetta TDI Cup qualifying
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Apr 26
Filed under: Convertibles, Euro, GM, Vauxhall, UK
Click above for a gallery of the Vauxhall Tigra Sport Rogue
Mock tops: they're not just for Cadillacs anymore. Heck, now they're not even for non-convertibles anymore. Across the pond, Vauxhall has found an answer to a question no one has asked -- or at least a question no one should be asking. That question is, "how do we appeal to customers who want the look of a soft top on their hardtop convertible."
Our answer: Those customers are insane -- pay them no mind. Their answer: Give the droptop a mock top...even though it's not technically "mock". This, in a nutshell, is rationale behind the Vauxhall Tigra Sport Rogue, whose folding metal roof is covered in red fabric, combining the look of a soft top with the added weight and diminished cargo capacity that come with a retractable hardtop. Brilliant. The least they could have done was insert fake bows under the fabric to really drive home the theme. I mean, that treatment looked completely awesome on the four-door Buick Regal grandpa speciaI I saw in the supermarket parking lot the other day.
[Source: Vauxhall]
Continue reading Vauxhall Tigra Sport Rogue: When a mock top isn't really a mock top
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Apr 26
Filed under: Ethanol, On Two Wheels, UK
Here’s a project that caught our attention. After all, it’s got a motorcycle powered by fruit.
The bike was a Triumph Daytona 675 motorbike that broke a speed record of 158.7 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. The interesting part of the project is that the fuel used to run the bike was ethanol obtained with basic equipment. So basic that it was made by students from the Prince William School in Oundle, Northamptonshire, UK in their A-levels Chemistry Lab. The bike was lightly modified by Bike magazine (just a remap of the fuel injection system) and provided for free by Triumph Motorcycles. Then the A-level students (equivalent to High School seniors in the U.S.) crushed and fermented 6,000 apples to obtain the ethanol.
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[Source: Triumph]
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Apr 26
Kimi Raikkonen produces a blistering final lap to qualify in pole position for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
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Apr 26
Place your order for GT-R and WRX-Sti
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Good news for the fan of GTR and WRX ! You can now place your order for this two brand new car at NAZA World. Featured in last year October’s Tokyo Motor Show, these 2 new model finally hit Malaysia market.
The Subaru Impreza WRX STi comes with a totally new body scheme than its predecessor and powered by 2.5l ‘Boxer’ engine, which is 50lbs lighter and produces more torque at lower engine speeds. Output remains at 224bhp, and 306Nm of torque but it has better throttle response thanks to the weight reduction.
The other car (or monster, rather) unveiled was the Nissan GT-R. The new GT-R - with a twin-turbo, 3.8l V6 under the hood putting out 450bhp and 500Nm through a seven-speed gearbox - simply dwarfs its older brother, the R34, with a bigger and broader body structure.
The Impreza WRX is priced at RM302,999. As for the Nissan GT-R, it’s yours for a mere RM728,999. All prices are on the road, without insurance.
Source : The StAR and NAZA
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Apr 26
Filed under: Etc., Green Culture, Green Daily
We can green up cars all we want, it’s still going to require a lot of energy to move heavy vehicles down the street. Also, driving all the time feeds into a certain kind of life. While many places in the U.S. have been built in such a way that they require driving as a part of everyday life, not everyone is in favor of such a lifestyle. One of them is James Howard Kunstler, author of “The Geography of Nowhere”, who recently started a 15-minute weekly podcast that covers “the coming end of suburbia and cheap oil.” His general take is that no matter what the alternative fuel, the only real solution is to rethink what it means to be mobile and how we get around.
If you want a flavor of what Kunstler’s ‘cast is all about, here’s a snippet from episode 7, called “Fate of Flagstaff & Hydrogen Cars“:
The problem in America is not that we’re driving the wrong kind of cars, per se.The trouble in the United States is we’re driving incessantly. We’re driving every kind of car there is, incessantly. And we’ve got to find a way out of the incessant motoring and a way to live without it, and a happy way to live without it-not a punishment way to live without it, but a way to be happy and do it. And it means, really, a completely different paradigm for everyday life.
My kind of guy. If Kunstler sounds like someone you’d like to hear more from, check out the website and/or sign up in iTunes. Read more after the jump. Thanks to show host and producer Duncan Crary for the tip!
Press Release:
Top Suburban Sprawl Critic Launches Podcast
James Howard Kunstler, Author of “The Geography of Nowhere”, Features Weekly on Talk Show
TROY, N.Y. — One of the world’s loudest and funniest critics of suburban sprawl is now podcasting.
The KunstlerCast is a weekly talk show about “the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl,” featuring James Howard Kunstler. Updated Thursdays, each 15-minute program tackles the coming end of suburbia and cheap oil.
“Suburbia is a living arrangement with no future,” Kunstler said. “I believe a lot of people share my feelings about the tragic landscape of highway strips, parking lots, housing tracts, mega-malls, junked cities, and ravaged countryside that makes up the everyday environment where most Americans live and work.”
A former staff writer for Rolling Stone Magazine, Kunstler is best known as the author of “The Geography of Nowhere,” a landmark anti-sprawl book that gave people a vocabulary and syntax to articulate their growing disgust with the American suburban landscape. Kunstler’s own language is peppered with snarky descriptions, like “parking lagoons”, “one-story UFOs”, “Nature Band-Aids”, “patriotic totems”, “fry pits”, “starchitecture” and “yesterday’s tomorrow.”
Duncan Crary, 29, the show’s host and producer, approached Kunstler, 59, with the idea of podcasting to expose a new generation of Americans to these ideas.
“As a teenager growing up on a cul-de-sac in the burbs, I knew there was something wrong with the place where I lived. But I couldn’t quite say what it was until I read ‘The Geography of Nowhere.’ Then I figured it out,” Crary said. “Do you know what a cul-de-sac is, really? It’s a dead-end circle.”
Although Kunstler’s books have become standard reading in urban planning courses, he has no formal training in planning or design. In college he majored in theater, which perhaps provided a foundation for his mainstream appeal and humor.
“It’s sort of evolved into a comedy act,” Kunstler said of his approach to critiquing life in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. “Samuel Beckett put it well when he said ‘Nothing is funnier than unhappiness.’ These environments cause us so much unhappiness, so much distress, that they’re a source of comedy.”
Show topics on the KunstlerCast have included the overabundance of chain drugstores, dismal downtown parking garages, European car clubs and the future of small cities. Listeners from across North America have called with questions about hideous architecture, the fate of various cities and alternative fuels.
Kunstler dismisses the quest to find an alternative fuel to replace oil as a wish to keep the American automobile fleet running at all costs. But, he notes, you can’t run 200 million vehicles, WalMart and Disney World on used French fried potato oil.
“The one thing that Americans are never talking about is building walkable cities or walkable neighborhoods. It doesn’t require any heroic new technologies or new discoveries to create walkable environments, which are absolutely the most pleasant places to live in and get around,” Kunstler said. “Sure we all have our own cars at our disposal all the time. But because of that there’s almost no place in America that’s worth being in or driving to!”
Kunstler’s post-oil novel, “World Made By Hand”, was published this month by Atlantic Monthly Press. His nonfiction books include “The City in Mind,” “Home from Nowhere” and “The Long Emergency.”
The KunstlerCast is available for listening anytime for free on the Internet.
The show also airs twice a week on KAYO-LP 92.9 FM & 94.3 FM Northwest Indy Radio in Washington State. Crary said he hopes other independent community radio stations will carry the show soon.
For information, visit: KunstlerCast.com
[Source: KunstlerCast]
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Apr 26
The New 8th Generation Honda accord
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Honda has launched their new 8th generation Honda accord in Malaysia. This model available 3 variants at launch 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter variants (both locally assembled) , and a Thai-imported 3.5 liter V6 model.
CAR SPECS
Honda Accord 2.0 VTi : 2.0 liter R-series SOHC i-VTEC, 156 PS at 6,300rpm and torque of 189Nm at 4,300rpm.
Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L : K24 2.0 liter DOHC i-VTEC engine, 180 PS at 6,500rpm, torque 222Nm at 4,300rpm. This 5-speed automatic, and comes with manual sequential shifting via paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.
Honda Accord 3.5 : SOHC i-VTEC V6 engine, 275 PS at 6,200rpm and torque 339Nm at 5,000rpm.
The new 8th generation honda accord is available in five colors: Polished Metal Metallic; Bold Beige Metallic; Nighthawk Black Pearl; Sparkle Gray Pearl; and Alabaster Silver Metallic.
THE PRICE
2008 Honda Accord 2.0 VTi - RM141,800.00
2008 Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L - RM171,800.00
2008 Honda Accord 3.5 V6 - RM249.800.00
For more details visit http://www.honda.com.my/
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Apr 26
BY JENS MEINERS
Affirmed class consciousness with the latest upgrade of this posh little car.
For more than two decades, the Volkswagen Golf—or Rabbit in the U.S.—has been the classless car par excellence in Europe, driven by students, the common worker, and the top executive who appreciates the anonymity of the compact hatchback.
The demographics of the Golf buyer changed slowly but irrevocably with the introduction of its posh brother, the Audi A3 which entered the market in 1996. Built on the same platform, the A3 was nicer in every respect. And when the Golf’s cool, clean lines were lost in the transition from the fourth to the current-model generation, the second-generation A3, launched in 2003, got an additional boost. The U.S. got its first A3 for the 2006 model year and made the 2006 Car and Driver 10Best Cars list.
Now it’s time for some upgrades. For 2009, the front hood and fenders of the A3 are repainted with a stronger brush; the car gains new door handles; mirrors with integrated blinkers; and a different choice of wheel designs are thrown into the package.
The three-door A3—which is not likely to be sold in North America—gets a restyled third door. But the new five-door “Sportback” as it is known in Europe—or five-door hatch as we know it in the U.S.—is the better looking of the two.
And it wouldn’t be an Audi without the coolest lights in its class. The cold, watchful LED strips that come with the optional bi-xenon package could turn us into unflinching devotees.
The interior is upgraded with a few more aluminum-look accents and an optional sport steering wheel with a flat bottom side—racy.
So Many Powertrains to Choose From
But this is more than just a cosmetic facelift—with some updates to the powertrain choices. In Europe, there are eight engines in the stable, six of them direct-injection four-cylinders with turbocharging. The five gasoline engines range from 101 hp for the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter to 261 hp for the 2.0-liter turbo in the S3. Three turbo-diesels make between 104 hp and 168 hp.
In North America, the 3.2-liter V-6 continues, with S tronic dual-clutch transmission, but the 2.0T (turbocharged inline-four) adds Quattro and S tronic. The A3 also gets a new “Magnetic Ride” adaptive shock absorber.
Upgrades to transmissions in Europe include: the wet-clutch six-speed dual-clutch transmission for the diesel, the 200-hp 2.0 TFSI and the 3.2 V-6 model is complemented by a new dry-clutch seven-speed unit for the lower-torque gasoline engines. The four-wheel-drive system is tweaked for quicker power distribution. Magnetic Ride is a new option in Europe as well.
No S3 For U.S.
Power addicts in Europe can finally order the wild S3 as a five-door version with the uprated 2.0-liter turbo if the three-door isn’t sufficient. In North America, the slightly heavier and less-powerful V-6 remains the top choice in an A3—still no S3 for us in any body style. Audi says the European S3 clocks 0 to 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds (5.8 seconds for the five-door). Top speed is governed at 156 mph.
If you are stuck in traffic and bored, the new A3 offers more options to play with than most other machines, even far bigger ones. This compact car even mimics the Lexus trick of attempting to park itself.
Audi is taking orders now, with the first face-lifted A3s to be delivered to European customers this summer with a starting price of 20,350 euros ($31,960). In the U.S., the changes take effect in September with the launch of the 2009 model. We don’t expect huge price increases over the lineup that currently ranges from about $25,000 to $34,000.
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Apr 26
Formula One's leading contenders compete for pole position at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
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Apr 26
“H2R” is the title of a project developed by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. What’s it all about? This is BMW’s 16th art car in which the outer shell is replaced by ice. The H2R is a racing car powered by hydrogen, and it was developed to achieve speed records in terms of “sustainable mobility” (their words). Olafur Eliasson has removed the outer covering of the H2R prototype and replaced it with a complex skin of two reflecting layers of superimposed metal spanning the body of the car. This shape is covered with fragile layers of ice which are obtained by spraying 2,000 liters of water over the frame, inside a freezer, where the car is shown. OK, so this is not very green after all.
As usual with art car projects, the artist has something to says about the H2R project: “By bringing together art, design, social and environmental issues, I hope to contribute to a different way of thinking-feeling-experiencing cars and seeing them in relation to the time and space in which we live.” If you’re interested, the car will be shown from May 29th at the State Museum of Applied Arts and Design in Munich, Germany.
Gallery: BMW H2R Project
[Source: BMW]
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Apr 26
Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Hyundai, Driving
Click for a high res gallery of the new Sonata
In recent months, Hyundai has made a big splash with the introductions of the Genesis sedan and coupe. While those two models will likely do wonders for Hyundai's street cred, they will definitely be niche players when it comes to volume. Among passenger cars in the US market, the midsize segment has been the highest volume category for nearly two decades. Since the mid-nineties, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have been the primary players with everyone else having been an also-ran. In recent years, however, Hyundai's entrant in the segment, the Sonata, has put up an increasingly aggressive challenge to the big dogs. The current generation Hyundai Sonata debuted for the 2006 model year and the company unwrapped its mid-cycle refresh back in February at the Chicago Auto Show.
The 2009 Sonatas have been in production since before the Chicago debut and they should be in stock at Hyundai stores around the country now. We went out to the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center (HATCI) outside of Ann Arbor, MI for a tour of the facility where the new Sonata was created and then set out for a couple of hours to see how it behaves in the real world. Find out if the new Sonata is for you after the jump.
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Hyundai Sonata - Korean bred, redesigned in America
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Apr 26
Filed under: Biodiesel, Green Daily
LC Biofuels is trying to explain why its biodiesel is not getting any cheaper. According to the Biodiesel Blog, the company has sent out a letter that describes how the ever-increasing price of raw materials and diesel fuel seriously impact its biodiesel prices. The weak dollar - which makes it more lucrative for soybean producers to sell their product to China - also plays a role.
Feedstock prices are set, mostly, by the Chicago Board of Trade, the letter says, and because soybean prices have tripled over the past year, the price that LC Biofuels has to sell a gallon of biodiesel for to make money has climbed to about $6.25. Other biodiesel plants have stopped production (see here), but LC Biofuels is going to keep on trying to make fuel for the time being. Prices will be higher, but when costs come down - if costs come down - the pump will reflect the drop.
[Source: Biodiesel Blog]
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Apr 26
The newborn Audi Q5 prefabricated its concern debut, where do you think? At the Peiping Motor Show.
I’m trusty Audi knows who they are feat to fisticuffs with
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Apr 26
The Buick Invicta Concept a midsize payment sedan, debuted a some life past at the Peiping Auto Show. Inspired from
