Spied 2010 Cadillac BRX

Although Cadillac was one of the first brands to realize the notion of the luxury SUV with its tank-sized Escalade, the brand has been notably late in further populating the luxury utility market it helped popularize.Cadillac’s first compact SUV, the BRX, will be no less tardy, set as it is to appear in 2009. It will compete in a segment that includes the Acura RDX, BMW X3, and Land Rover LR2—all of which will have enjoyed between two and five years of market traction by then. By the time the BRX goes on sale, the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5 will be vying for attention.

It adds up to the fact this Caddy needs to be better than good. The BRX will be built atop a stretched version of GM’s new front- and all-wheel-drive TE platform, the same architecture used by the 2008 Saturn Vue, which is the North American version of Europe’s Opel Antara.The TE platform is a combo of the original Theta architecture found underneath the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent and the Epsilon mid-size-sedan platform that underpins the Chevrolet Malibu, Saab 9-3, and Saturn Aura.

The long-awaited Saab 9-4X crossover is also expected to be built on the TE platform. Both utes could go into production at the GM plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, starting in 2009, alongside the Chevrolet HHR and Saturn Vue. BRXs intended for export markets could also be assembled in Trollhättan, Sweden, alongside the Cadillac BLS sedan and wagon.Sources say the BRX will be powered by 2.8-liter and 3.6-liter V-6 engines similar to those found under the hoods of a litany of other GM products.

And although the BRX is expected to come with standard all-wheel drive, we’re not sure if this platform, with its pedestrian roots, will be able to sustain a luxury vehicle with BMW-grade performance, which is what the BRX needs to offer.At least it should look cool, based on these spy shots that appear to have photo-shopped backgrounds, but the vehicle cues seem genuine.

© Source: caranddriver

Spied 2009 Audi R8-RS

Audi’s R8 is already being celebrated as one of the most savory, slippery, sexalicious supercars ever to roam our roads. And, to our delight, the luxury automaker is acting more like such sports-car makers as Ferrari or Porsche by continuing to evolve the flagship sports model.

In addition to the simplified grillwork front and back and that military-grade flat gray paint job, modifications to this particular R8 mule include widened sail panels—implying the need for more air into the mid-mounted engine than satisfies the standard 4.2-liter V-8 in the regular R8—and a high-performance parts-bin braking system, complete with what appear to be Gallardo-sourced carbon-ceramic rotors coupled with large S-line calipers.

Our spy’s guess is that this is the rumored V-10 model, which makes sense, given how much the R8 shares structurally with the V-10–powered Lamborghini Gallardo.

We think there’s an equal chance, however, that this car might be powered by a high-performance diesel V-8 like that found in the Q7 4.2 TDI, where it makes 321 horsepower and an impressive 561 pound-feet of torque.

When Audi first showed us its concept for a supercar, the Le Mans Quattro, at the 2003 Frankfurt auto show, it was powered by a twin-turbo, direct-injection, gasoline V-10 developing in excess of 600 horsepower—making it more powerful than the Gallardo.

© Source: caranddriver

Minitest 2008 Lotus 2-Eleven

VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 0-door roadster
BASE PRICE (U.K.): $68,532
ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 90.6 in Length: 150.5–152.4 in Width: 67.3 in Height: 43.8 in
Curb weight: 1650 lb

We are amazed and mostly delighted by the way Lotus has played so many tunes on the theme of the Elise. Lightweight cars are the thing today, so it is a surprise to learn that this thoroughly modern British sports car dates back 10 years—although it only came to the U.S. officially for 2005.

Milestones in Elise development were the introductions of the Exige coupe, the 2-Eleven-style 340R, and a redesigned roadster, and the replacement of the original Rover engine with the 1.8-liter Toyota VVTL-i (for the U.S. launch) and supercharging that engine for the Exige S. Along the way, the same chassis, made with bonded aluminum extrusions, has been adapted to create the Opel Speedster for GM, the Lotus Europa S, and the electric Tesla roadster, and it will be further modified for Lotus's Project Eagle, a two-plus-two scheduled to appear by the end of 2008.

This is an ultra-quick car (0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, claims Lotus) that is also agile, with so much grip and responses so perfect it makes an average driver look heroic. But only on a track, because in the U.S., the Lotus 2-Eleven is not certified for public roads.

© Source: caranddriver

First Look 2009 Subaru Forester

Tall wagon. Small crossover. Sleeper rocket. Lesbo-chic whisk-about. The Subaru Forester has been called a lot of things, but one thing it’s never been called is good-looking. That all may change for 2009, when the Forester undergoes its first ground-up redo, featuring a three-inch-longer wheelbase, three inches of additional length, and gratefully, all-new, more macho styling.

What won’t change is its tall wagon, raised-suspension program, but the ’09 model’s off-roading capability should be heightened—literally—thanks to no less than 8.9 inches of ground clearance. Helping on-road demeanor is its stiffer, all-new platform, which utilizes a new double-wishbone rear suspension for improved cornering prowess.

As with the current model, the ’09 Forester will be powered by a choice of four-cylinder boxer motors, each displacing 2.5 liters and available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. Better news still is that it will continue to be offered with a manual transmission, now with “Incline Start Assist”. Oh, and of course, being a Subaru, the Forester will never send its power anywhere if not to all four wheels.

The Forester will be available in a variety of flavors, from the base Forester X to the range-topping L.L. Bean Edition. Each will benefit from a more spacious cabin rendered in higher quality materials intended to distance it from its econo-car past. New interior features and options include double-stitched seat fabrics, advanced audio systems, and—finally—a navigation system. The little crossover’s safety résumé also grows to include standard stability control, in addition to surround-sound air bags with a rollover sensor.

© Source: caranddriver

2008 Volkswagen R32 - Short Take Road Tests

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 3-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED: $35,430 (base price: $33,630)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, iron block and aluminum head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 195 cu in, 3189cc
Power (SAE net): 250 bhp @ 6300 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 236 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual with automated shifting and clutch
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 101.5 in Length: 167.2 in Width: 69.2 in Height: 57.7 in
Curb weight: 3521 lb
FUEL ECONOMY : EPA city/highway driving: 18/23 mpg

Basically, the Volkswagen R32 is a three-door GTI—already one of our favorite small cars, with a comparison-test crown and a 10Best trophy to its name—with more: a 250-hp narrow-angle V-6, all-wheel drive, a full complement of luxury features, and weight. VW manages the R32’s weight gain without losing the GTI’s playful tossability by cinching the car’s suspenders a bit tighter. Spring rates, increased just so all around, mask the additional 332 pounds quite well, leaving the GTI and the R32 nearly indistinguishable in tight Alpine switchbacks. With our test gear riding shotgun, the R32, even fitted with the no-cost-option all-season tires, managed 0.87 g on the skidpad, matching the best number posted by a production GTI in our hands (the early Euro-spec car we tested pulled 0.90 g on summer tires).

Unfortunately, the R32 manages its increase in power without a huge gain in speed over the lighter front-wheel-drive GTI. All R32s come with Volkswagen’s DSG dual-clutch sequential transmission—with launch control—so mashing the throttle yields easy, consistent hole-shots. Compared with a DSG-equipped GTI, we saw a half-second improvement in the 0-to-60-mph blast but just a 0.2-second and 2-mph lead through the quarter, with those benchmarks falling in 5.5 and 14.4 seconds at 97 mph, compared with 6.0 and 14.6 at 95.

No doubt the R32 is a special package, a rare blend of performance and comfort, and a bargain compared with other cars offering the same balance of attributes. But for $33,630, or about $6000 more than a similarly equipped GTI, some might want more than just two more driven wheels, a center-exit exhaust that emits a sexier note, and a slight calming of high-speed ride. How much is a small step toward perfection worth to you?

2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport - Comparison Tests

What we noticed first inside the Mercedes-Benz C300 while running through the canyons near Ojai, California, is that the road felt as if it were coated with Crisco. Or as one staffer noted snarkily, “I’ve never hydroplaned on a dry road before, until now.” While the other sedans gripped, pounced, and powered through the corners, the Benz, wearing all-season tires that are a part of the Sport model, slid and protested its way through the Highway 33 jaunt. Mercedes does offer an 18-inch wheel upgrade for $1000 that adds dedicated performance tires, but our $37,410 example didn’t have the option and likely suffered for it as the rest of the sedans in the test benefited from having more serious performance rubber.

Step the C300 away from the performance precipice, and the Benz seemingly finds itself and connects with the driver. A comfortable ride, a nearly silent engine, a solid structure, and the low-set multifunction turn-signal stalk will have Benz owners and luxury seekers feeling right at home. Making S-class customers feel right at home should they get a C300 as a loaner is the excellent COMAND system that combines controls for navigation, audio, and a multitude of other settings into a single knob. Unlike BMW’s iDrive, the Mercedes system is intuitive and doesn’t leave an unsightly growth in the middle of the dash.

Aside from the electronics, the rest of the interior fails to impress. Much of it is made up of shiny, hard plastic that is low-rent enough to suggest that maybe it was Chrysler that divorced Mercedes. In back, a rear seat with very little space was rated the least comfortable and serves as a reminder that the C300, and the 328i, for that matter, is barely larger than a Honda Civic sedan—a Civic, in fact, has more interior space than the Benz. So Mercedes has built a refined, small sedan. It’s sporty on an intramural level; too bad the rest of the class plays on varsity.

© Source: caranddriver

Nissan Serena Highway Star

The Nissan Serena Highway Star is destined for the Japanese market. The Nissan Serena Highway Star has a very versatile interior with seats that are adjustable to 11 different positions and third-row seats that utilize assist springs. The Nissan Serena Highway Star price range is between 2,131,500 yen to 2,709,000 yen.

Nissan Releases New Serena Minivan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Some days ago announced the release of the new Serena minivan, which goes on sale at Nissan dealers throughout Japan. The new Serena, which has been highly acclaimed by customers for its class-leading interior roominess, excellent outward visibility, flexible seating configurations and driving ease, features revised exterior and interior styling, leading technology features and a new model lineup.

New Exterior Styling
Serena’s exterior styling has been enhanced with a more distinctive and modern front end design, including a new grille, new headlights, front bumper and fenders. The Highway Star model also features more dynamic front-end styling, with even stronger character lines.

Other exterior improvements include remote-controlled power-folding body-colored outside mirrors incorporating turn signal lamps on all models, redesigned wheel covers on the 20S model and the addition of AFS to bi-xenon headlamps as Gallery: Nissan Serena Highway Star
standard on the Highway Star model, and optional on all other models.

These additions improve upon an already highly practical and stylish minivan, with large side sliding doors and low floor height for easy entry and exit, standard sliding door automatic closing feature on both sides of all models and on the 20G model, standard remote-controlled automatic sliding side doors. Eight body colors are available on the new Serena, including three new colors – a metallic Kingfisher Blue, a pearlescent Rose Red and a pearl metallic Cool Iron.

© Source: zercustoms

Mazda Demio Chiara

This special edition model with a brilliant custom body color and distinctive seat covers
commemorates Mazda Demio's RJC Car of the Year win

The Chiara, which means brilliant or bright in Italian, is based on the 13C-V grade Demio (the front-wheel drive (FWD) model which is powered by a 1.3-liter Miller cycle engine and a continuously variable transmission [CVT]) or the electronically controlled four-wheel drive (e-4WD) 13C grade model.

The Chiara special edition features the exclusive Golden Red Mica -- a vivid shade of red sprinkled with gold flakes – as an exterior color choice. The interior includes custom seat covers featuring a multistripe pattern, which enhances the special edition model’s distinctive style. Special equipment for the Chiara provides improved convenience through an advanced keyless entry and starter system, an auto light system, water-repellent coating for glass surfaces and rain sensing front wipers, which were all originally set as factory-installed options for the standard Demio model.

Base models
Base models are the 13C-V grade Demio (1.3-liter DOHC Miller cycle engine with a continuously variable transmission [CVT], front-wheel drive) or the 13C grade (1.3-liter DOHC engine with four-speed automatic transmission, electronically controlled four-wheel drive [e-4WD]).

© Source: zercustoms

2009 Toyota Corolla Road Test

Base price: $15,000 (est.)
Engine: 1.8-liter four, 132 hp/128 lb-ft; XRS: 2.4-liter four, 158 hp/162 lb-ft
Transmission: Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic (base models); five-speed manual or five-speed automatic (XRS); front-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 178.7 x 69.3 x 57.7 in
Wheelbase: 102.4 in
Curb weight: 2,723-2,965 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 27/35 mpg (1.8-liter); 22/29 mpg (manual 2.4-liter), 22/30 mpg (automatic 2.4-liter)
Safety features: Dual front, side and curtain airbags anti-lock brakes; stability control standard on XRS Major standard features: Air conditioning; power steering; tilt/telescopic steering wheel; 60/40 split folding rear seat; AM/FM/CD (XM satellite ready) radio; outside temperature gauge; two 12-volt power outlets; driver vertical seat height adjuster
Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles

For starters, we think this new Corolla is far better looking than the near-invisible car it replaces early next year. And it steps up in power and torque to a 158-hp, 162 lb-ft, 2.4-liter 16-valve VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with "intelligence") four-cylinder engine...but only in the sportiest XRS model. The other four models, from bargain-basement base through better-equipped LE, XLE and semi-sporty S, make do with a fairly anemic 132-hp (up from the 2008 Corolla's 126) dual-VVT-i 16-valve four that pumps out just 128 lb-ft of twist (up from 122). That compares to a healthier 140 horses and an identical 128 lb-ft for the Civic's same-size four and 148 hp and a much stronger 152 lb-ft for the base '08 Cobalt's 2.2-liter four.

These new Toyota Corolla sedans roll on the same 102.4-in.wheelbase as their predecessors but sit 0.4 inches longer, 2.8 inches wider and 0.8 inches lower. The added width provides additional shoulder and hip room in front, though (for some reason) a couple inches less rear hip room. Leg room is increased about a half-inch in front and nearly an inch in back, but front head room is down a half-inch due to the lower roofline. The overall result is a slightly roomier, quieter and more comfortable cabin usable for four adults but very tight for five.

2008 Nissan Fuga

The 2008 Nissan Fuga features two new engines: the VQ35HR and VQ25HR. The 2008 Nissan Fuga is also the first vehicle to be equipped with Nissan's Distance Control Assist (Intelligent Pedal) System. The 2008 Nissan Fuga price ranges from 3,969,000 yen to 6,279,000 yen.

The new Fuga features a revised model lineup, a redesigned exterior and interior, Nissan's new VQ35HR and VQ25HR engines and the world's first*1 Distance Control Assist (Intelligent Pedal) System*2, among other refinements, the combination of which further advances the car's all-around qualities as a premium sports sedan.
Living up to its marketing tagline of “SHIFT_luxury,” Fuga transforms the traditional notion of a luxury car. Fuga is available in three grades (GT, GT Type S and GT Type P) for three engine variations (V6 2.5-liter, V6 3.6-liter and V8 4.5-liter). 4WD version is available for 350GT.

A Responsive Driveline
Fuga showcases the latest in Nissan engine technology with its choice of 3.5-liter VQ35HR and 2.5-liter VQ25HR engines, which combine high levels of power and torque with low fuel consumption, as well as producing sounds that befit its position as a sports luxury machine.

Both powerplants are backed by a standard full-range electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission with a DS mode. The DS mode works to provide maximum performance by optimizing gear selection for the applicable driving conditions. Additional control is available through magnesium paddle shifters, which are standard on the GT Type S model. (4.5-liter VK45DE engine is also available for 2WD models.)

Volkswagen Polo Match

The Volkswagen Polo model range is receiving a new version - the Volkswagen Polo Match. The Volkswagen Polo Match replaces the S level in the line-up. The Volkswagen Polo Match is equipped with 15-inch 'Charade' alloy wheels, body-colored bumper strips, door strips, door handles and wing mirrors inset into which are integrated indicators. The Volkswagen Polo Match also has a set of foglamps that are set into the twin airdams.

The new Polo Match is distinguished by a set of 15-inch ‘Charade’ alloy wheels and body-coloured bumper strips, door strips, door handles and wing mirrors inset into which are integrated indicators. At the front a pair of foglamps are set into the twin airdams.

The revisions continue to the Polo’s interior. A leather-trimmed steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake grip are joined by the option of either a six-disc CD autochanger or an iPod connection to allow access to your digital music library on the move. Practical additions include electric front windows, a split folding rear seat, height adjustment for the driver’s seat and a useful drawer under the passenger seat. All these enhancements represent an £825 improvement in value.

Powering the new Polo Match is a choice of engines ranging from the compact petrol 1.2-litre unit up to the flexible 1.4-litre TDI engine – the latter of which is placed in VED band ‘B’ equating to an annual tax bill of only £35.

Prices for the new Polo Match start at £9,315 for the 1.2-litre three-door model before rising to
£11,380 for the 1.4-litre TDI five-door variant. The Polo Match is now open for ordering at any Volkswagen Retailer. To find your nearest Volkswagen Retailer, call 0800 333 666 or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

© Source:zercustoms

Mazda MX 5 Niseko

The Mazda MX-5 Niseko comes in two version: a 1.8i powered version and a 2.0i. The Mazda MX-5 Niseko soft-top is powered by a 1.8 liter engine and will be available in UK in 240 units at a starting price of 17,995 pounds. The Mazda MX-5 Niseko roadster coupe is powered by a 2.0 liter engine and will be available in 560 units at a price of pounds.

The latest Mazda MX-5 can truly be described as an all-weather, all-year sports car with its enhanced heating and air-conditioning systems.
Now, to celebrate its continuing status as ‘Britain’s favourite sports car brand’ this winter, Mazda is introducing a pair of special edition ‘Niseko’ models, named after Japan’s most prestigious skiing resort.

As the latest edition of the world’s best selling roadster, the rear-wheel drive Mazda MX-5 Niseko boasts unrivalled handling and driving dynamics, and represents extremely competitive value for money. Available from £17,995 on-the-road, the Niseko offers up to £2,000 worth of additional or exclusive extras over and above the equivalent standard models.

On sale from 1 January 2008, both the ‘entry-level’ 1.8i Niseko soft-top (126ps, five-speed) and the £19,995 2.0i Niseko roadster coupe (160ps, six-speed) are available in an exclusive new bespoke colour ‘Icy Blue’ metallic, as well as Sunlight Silver metallic – for no additional charge.

As well as adding the special Niseko features, the generous standard equipment of the donor vehicles ensures that buyers can enjoy: driver’s seat height adjustment, electric windows, central locking, MP3-compatible radio/single CD player with six-speaker audio system, climate control air-conditioning, stainless-steel scuff plates, twin chrome exhaust tail pipes and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser. Despite all of the additional specification, both Mazda MX-5 Niseko special editions remain in the same insurance groups as their standard counterparts – 11E (1.8i) and 13E (2.0i).

© Source: zercustoms

2002 Peugeot H2O Concept

H2O is not just a futurist fire prevention vehicle produced by the creative people at Peugeot. H2O produces electricity and water using fuel cell battery technology. Hidden underneath the playful and dynamic appearance of a fire engine lies a very innovative propulsion method. H2O, built on a Partner Electric base, uses the fuel cell battery as a source of on-board energy and features a major innovation for this technology: the hydrogen is produced in real time, based on the system's needs, which means it can overcome the problems associated with storing pressurized hydrogen.

With its generously proportioned air intake, feline-shaped lights and plunging muzzle-like bonnet, the front of the vehicle is strongly identified with the Lion. The rear is reserved for the tank and a telescopic ladder. At the bottom of the rear end panel, instead of the exhaust (no longer needed) there are two connections for the water feed or the branch pipe. Naturally, the colour is "fire engine red", reflected in the interior with nicely matching touches of metal.

The cabin is designed for 2 firemen and to hold modern command and operating equipment, such as GPS, telephone and a touch screen on the dashboard. A second screen is linked to a PC and shows the map of the buildings.

2008 Lancia Delta

According to various websites the new generation of the Lanci Delta will be shown for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The 2008 Lancia Delta is scheduled to be launched in June next year.

The 2008 Lancia Delta will be based on the Lancia Delta HPE that you can see in the pictures. The Lancia Delta HPE was presented for the first time at the Paris Motor Show last year.

The Lancia Delta model range is most famous for the success it had in the World Rally Championship with the Lancia Delta Integrale.

© Source: zercustoms

Euro NCAP: five stars for New Renault Laguna

Laguna II was the first vehicle to ever achieve a five-star rating in the passive safety assessment tests carried out by the independent body, Euro NCAP. It was a result that took the car into a new era. Today, it’s the turn of New Laguna to achieve the same maximum five-star rating. With a total of 36 points from a possible 37, one of the highest scores ever recorded in the tests, the newcomer even outperformed its predecessor to once again highlight Renault's expertise in the realm of passive safety. In addition to its Euro NCAP credentials, New Laguna delivers reassuring handling thanks to its precise, responsive chassis, while at the same time ensuring a level of braking and technology that puts it at the top end of its category in real-life motoring conditions.

Systematic work into optimising the protection of all occupants
As Laguna II was the first vehicle to achieve a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP safety assessment tests, it was only natural that New Laguna should strive to innovate even further. Renault consequently developed a range of new solutions which take into account research into road accidents and real-life situations in a more holistic and effective manner to ensure the safety of all occupants. To guarantee enhanced protection, New Laguna evolved to ensure that its latest-generation protection equipment was triggered even faster. All configurations are now controlled by a triple algorithm in a bid to optimise protection performance in different impact situations (complex front, rear and side impacts). This effective system is combined with either six or eight airbags (optional rear thorax airbags from the second equipment level up) which are positioned all round the passengers.

For effective front impact protection, New Laguna is equipped with two new-generation dual-volume adaptive airbags and a sensor mounted on the driver's side seat-rail. When deployed, the form and volume of the front airbag adapts to the driver's size and seating position, optimising the way the load is spread out across the passenger's head and thorax. Meanwhile, each one of the three-point seatbelts is equipped with a load limiter (set at 400 and 600daN). The double pretensioners now act on each extremity of the front seatbelts (outer side of the lap-strap and reel). This solution combines with the anti-submarining hump built into the Seat cushion to hold the groin against the Seat and improve retention of the thorax in the case of frontal impact. The fixed central stalk has been improved to facilitate the belt's attachment, whilst at the rear, pretensioners and Isofix anchorage points are available for the outer seats.

Side impacts are a major cause of fatality, so specific work has gone into this domain with spectacular results. To reduce impact detection and reaction times by up to half, New Laguna features a system based on two sensors incorporated in the front door and B-pillar. A special algorithm automatically adjusts the system's response time to match the impact's force and controls a new-generation, twin-chamber, dual-pressure side airbag which protects both the thorax, which is more fragile, and the more resistant groin area. Legislation dictates that protection should be effective up to 31 mph, but New Laguna provides effective protection up to 44 mph.

New Laguna is also equipped with warning lights which warn if any of the five seatbelts are not fastened, plus an audible alarm in the case of the front seats. The seat-frames have been re-designed for enhanced efficiency and comfort. Although thinner, the seatbacks offer no impediment to the back, while protection of the neck in the case of rear impact has been improved too, thanks to new-generation headrests with built in slide-rails.

Safety in its genes and equipment
In addition to contributing to driving pleasure, weight optimisation also makes a major contribution to safety, giving shorter stopping distances to enhance active safety and less inertia in an impact to improve passive safety. New Laguna represents an average saving of 15kg across the range (up to 65kg in the case of the eco² 110hp diesel version) and this remarkable achievement makes it the first Renault model to be lighter than its predecessor, yet also safer in terms of protection thanks to its programmed collapse structure which has been engineered to absorb energy under impact, thereby sparing the cabin and ensuring that occupants are afforded the highest possible degree of protection.

In addition to its impressive chassis, New Laguna features class-leading braking performance. The new electro-hydraulic control unit incorporates the Brake Assist function which is triggered more quickly and with greater precision since it is insensitive to mechanical variations. Thanks to a 'pre-fill' function, the system prepares a build-up in hydraulic pressure if the driver's right foot suddenly lifts off the accelerator pedal. The combination of the chassis and more precise, auto-adaptive digital modelling of the vehicle's handling allows emergency situations to be detected more accurately. ABS and ESP are both standard and have been made more efficient by cutting in at the ideal moment to prevent jarring.

As well as the work which has gone into the technical aspects of New Laguna’s safety credentials, its cabin ergonomics also leaves drivers free to concentrate on the job of driving. Motoring data is displayed in a clearer, more graphic form, while the matrix dashboard display features several colours and its format varies as a function of the quantity and type of data being shown. The optional bi-xenon headlamps turn in relation to the vehicle's speed and steering wheel angle, giving up to 90 per cent extra light under cornering compared with halogen headlamps.

New Laguna also comes with modern driver aids such as cruise control, speed limiter, tyre pressure monitoring system, navigation systems and voice- or fingertip-controlled Bluetooth telephone equipment, as well as automatic headlamp and windscreen-wiper activation, plus front and rear parking sensors.

A pragmatic, committed approach
Renault's approach to safety is based on the study of real-life accidents and situations in a bid to provide products that are suited to the realities of motoring. The priority is consequently placed on providing the most efficient technologies possible to prevent the risk of having an accident, to take corrective action when faced with an unexpected driving situation and to protect passengers in the case of impact. Renault, which has long favoured a holistic approach that is not restricted to a single type of equipment or technology, has emerged over the years as the benchmark manufacturer when it comes to safety.

Laguna II	Five stars (2001 and 2003), the first ever car to achieve this degree of safety
Vel Satis	Five stars (2002 and 2005)
Mégane II	Five stars (2002)
Espace IV	Five stars (2003)
Kangoo	Four stars (2003)
Scénic II	Five stars (2003), a first for a vehicle of this segment
Modus	Five stars (2004), a first for a vehicle of this category
Mégane II Coupé-Cabriolet	Five stars (2004)
Clio III	Five stars (2005)
New Twingo	Four stars (2007)
New Laguna	Five stars (2007)

2009 Corvette ZR1 Powered By The Most Powerful Production Engine Ever From GM

When it arrives next summer, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be the most powerful and fastest production car ever produced by General Motors, with performance enabled by a new, supercharged 6.2L LS9 small-block V-8 engine.

Incorporating the engineering experience already found in the Corvette Z06’a LS7 engine and the new-for-2008 6.2L LS3 of the Corvette, GM Powertain is targeting 100 horsepower per liter for the LS9, or 620 horsepower (462 kW), and approximately 595 lb.-ft. of torque (807 Nm); final SAE-certified power levels will be available in early March 2008.

It is, indeed, the ultimate small-block engine for the ultimate Corvette.

“When you experience the LS9 in the Corvette ZR1, the terms performance and refinement take on a new meaning,” said Tom Stephens, group vice president for GM Powertrain and Quality. “The LS9 demonstrates an outstanding performance range, with smooth driveability at low speeds, and surprisingly fierce performance when the customer wants more power.”

The enabler of the LS9’s performance is a new, large positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger – with a unique four-lobe design – developed for the engine by Eaton. It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance. The LS9 represents the first of several new, supercharged small-block engines that will be introduced in GM vehicles in the near future, each using superchargers of similar design.

“The small-block V-8 once again demonstrates it boundless horsepower potential, versatile design and an architecture with proven quality, durability and reliability,” said Stephens. “We haven’t yet realized the small-block’s performance potential.”

Performance range

More than just its tremendous peak horsepower and torque numbers, the supercharged LS9 makes big power at lower rpm and carries it in a wide arc to 6,600 rpm. GM Powertrain testing shows the engine makes approximately 300 horsepower (224 kW) at 3,000 rpm and nearly 320 lb.-ft. of torque (434 Nm) at only 1,000 rpm. Torque tops 585 lb.-ft. (793 Nm) at about the 4,000-rpm mark, while horsepower peaks at 6,500 rpm. The engine produces 90 percent of peak torque from 2,600 rpm to 6,000 rpm.

Heavy-duty and lightweight reciprocating components enable the engine’s confident high-rpm performance, while the large-displacement Eaton supercharger pushes enough air to help the engine maintain power through the upper levels of the rpm band.

“The sixth-generation design of the supercharger expands the ‘sweet zone’ of the compressor’s effectiveness, broadening it to help make power lower in the rpm band,” said Ron Meegan, assistant chief engineer. “To put it simply, the low-end torque is amazing.”

The LS9 is assembled by hand at GM’s Performance Build Center, a unique, small-volume engine production facility in Wixom, Mich., that also builds the Corvette Z06’s LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines.

Cylinder block and reciprocating assembly details

The LS9’s aluminum cylinder block features steel, six-bolt main bearing caps, with enlarged vent windows in the second and third bulkheads for enhanced bay to bay breathing. Cast iron cylinder liners – measuring 4.06 inches (103.25 mm) in bore diameter – are inserted in the aluminum block and they are finish-bored and honed with a deck plate installed. The deck plate simulates the pressure and minute dimensional variances applied to the block when the cylinder heads are installed, ensuring a higher degree of accuracy that promotes maximum cylinder head sealing, piston ring fit and overall engine performance.

Nestled inside the cylinder block is a forged steel crankshaft that delivers the LS9’s 3.62-inch (92 mm) stroke. It features a smaller-diameter ignition-triggering reluctor wheel and a nine-bolt flange – the outer face of the crankshaft on which the flywheel is mounted – that provides more clamping strength. Other non-supercharged 6.2L engines, such as the base Corvette’s LS3, have a six-bolt flange. A torsional damper mounted to the front of the crankshaft features a keyway and friction washer, which also is designed to support the engine’s high loads.

Attached to the crankshaft is a set of titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons, which, when combined with the cylinder heads, delivers a 9.1:1 compression ratio. This combination is extremely durable and lightweight, enabling the LS9’s high-rpm capability.

Cylinder head details

The basic cylinder head design of the LS9 is similar to the L92-type head found on the LS3 V-8, but it is cast with a premium A356T6 alloy that is better at handling the heat generated by the supercharged engine – particularly in the bridge area of the cylinder head, between the intake and exhaust valves.

In addition to the special aluminum alloy, each head is created with a rotocast method. Also known as spin casting, the process involves pouring the molten alloy into a rotating mold. This makes for more even distribution of the material and virtually eliminates porosity – air bubbles or pockets trapped in the casting – for a stronger finished product.

Although the heads are based on the L92 design, they feature swirl-inducing wings that are cast into the intake ports. This improves the mixture motion of the pressurized air/fuel charge. The charge enters the combustion chambers via titanium intake valves that measure 2.16 inches (55 mm) in diameter. Spent gases exit the chambers through 1.59-inch (40.4 mm) hollow stem sodium-filled exhaust valves. The titanium intake and sodium-filled exhaust valves are used for their lightweight and high-rpm capability.

To ensure sealing of the pressurized engine, unique, four-layer steel head gaskets are used with the LS9’s heads.

Camshaft and valvetrain

The broad power band enabled by the LS9’s large-displacement supercharger allows it to make strong low-end torque and great high-rpm horsepower, which allowed engineers to specify a camshaft with a relatively low lift of 0.555-inch (14.1 mm) for both the intake and exhaust valves. This low-overlap cam has lower lift and slower valve-closing speeds than the Z06’s 505-horsepower (377 kW) LS7, helping the LS9 – with its approximately 620 horsepower – deliver exemplary idle and low-speed driving qualities.

The camshaft actuates a valvetrain that includes many components, including the lifters, rocker arms and valve springs, of the LS3 engine. However, LS7 retainers are used to support the engine’s high-rpm performance.

Supercharger and charge cooler details

The LS9’s R2300 supercharger is a sixth-generation design from Eaton, with a case that is specific to the Corvette application. The supercharger features a new four-lobe rotor design that promotes quieter and more efficient performance, while its large, 2.3-liter displacement ensures adequate air volume at high rpm to support the engine’s high-horsepower aspiration. Maximum boost pressure is 10.5 psi (0.72 bar).

The supercharger is an engine-driven air pump that contains a pair of long rotors that are twisted somewhat like pretzel sticks. As they spin around each other, incoming air is squeezed between the rotors and pushed under pressure into the engine – forcing more air into the engine than it could draw under “natural” aspiration. The rotors are driven by a pulley and belt that are connected to the engine’s accessory drive system.

Because the pressurized air is hotter than naturally aspirated air, the LS9 employs a liquid-to-air charge cooling system to reduce inlet air temperature after it exits the supercharger – reducing the inlet air temperature by up to 60 degrees C (140 F). Cooler air is denser and allows the engine to make the most of its high-pressure air charge. The charge cooling system includes a dedicated coolant circuit with a remote-mounted pump and reservoir.

The design of the supercharger case and its integrated charge cooling system was driven by the space and dimensions afforded under the Corvette’s hood. To that end, the charge cooler was designed as a “dual brick” system, with a pair of low-profile heat exchangers mounted longitudinally on either side of the supercharger. Coupled with the supercharger itself, this integrated design mounts to the engine in place of a conventional intake manifold and is only slightly taller than a non-supercharged 6.2L engine. The air inlet and rotor drive pulley are positioned at the front of the supercharger.

Additional engine details

Oiling system: The LS9 uses a dry-sump oiling system that is similar in design to the LS7’s system, but features a higher-capacity pump to ensure adequate oil pressure at the higher cornering loads the ZR1 is capable of achieving. An oil-pan mounted oil cooler is integrated, too, along with piston-cooling oil squirters located in the cylinder block. The expanded performance envelope of the Corvette ZR1 required changes to the dry sump system also used in the Z06. System capacity is increased and scavenge performance improved to meet the demands of Chevrolet's highest-performance sportscar.

Water pump: To compensate for the heavier load generated by the supercharger drive system, an LS9-specific water pump with increased bearing capacity is used.

Accessory drive system: In order to package the accessory drive system in the Corvette’s engine compartment, the supercharger drive was integrated into the main drive system. This required a wider 11-rib accessory drive system to be used with the LS9 in order to support the load delivered by the supercharger.

Fuel system: The LS9 uses high-capacity 48-lb./hr. fuel injectors with center-feed fuel lines. The center feed system ensures even fuel flow between the cylinders with less noise. In order to ensure fuel system performance during low speed operation as well as under the extreme performance requirements of wide open throttle (WOT), a dual pressure fuel system was developed. This system operates at 250 kPa at idle and low speed, and ratchets up to 600 kPa at higher-speed and WOT conditions.

Throttle body: An 87-mm, single-bore throttle body is used to draw air into the engine. It is electronically controlled.

Rocker covers / ignition coils: Unique rocker covers with new, direct-mount ignition coils are used. Other Gen IV engines, such as the LS3, feature coil packs mounted to a bracket. The LS9’s direct-mounted coils offer a cleaner appearance and a shorter lead between the coil and spark plug.

Beauty cover: A special engine cover is attached to the top of the LS9. It surrounds the intercooler, which is visible through a hood window, accenting the supercharger while simultaneously reducing noise. The cover has “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” script on the left and right sides, along with a debossed Corvette crossed flags emblem on the front.

New six-speed manual transmission

The Corvette ZR1’s LS9 engine is backed by a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission, with a twin-disc clutch system. It is based on the proven T56 six-speed, but upgraded to handle the LS9’s torque output and delivers improved shift quality

The twin-disc clutch system provides exceptional clamping power, while maintaining an easy clutch effort. The system employs a pair of 260-mm discs, which spreads out the engine’s torque load over a wider area, enabling tremendous clamping power to channel the LS9’s torque. It also dissipates heat better and extends the clutch life (in normal driving).

Thanks to comparatively small plates, the twin-disc system enables similar disc inertia to the Corvette Z06, which has a 290-mm single-disc system, contributing to low shift effort and providing exceptionally smooth engagement and light pedal effort. In fact, the more powerful ZR1 has a pedal effort similar to the Z06.

ZR1-specific gearing in the transmission provides a steep first-gear ratio that helps launch the car. The car’s top speed is achieved in sixth gear – a change from the fifth-gear top-speed run-outs in the manual-transmission Corvette and Corvette Z06. The gears also are designed to balance performance with refinement. The angles of the gear teeth are optimized to provide both strength and quietness.

Holden VE Ute Crowned The Reader's Favourite

Carsguide announced GM Holden's VE Ute SV6 has won their inaugural Reader's Choice award, one of three cars awarded in the 2007 carsguide Car of the Year awards.

The VE Ute SV6 received almost 20 per cent of the entries registered through the carsguide.com.au website to pick up the award.

All 11 of the carsguide's Car of the Year finalists were in the running, however the VE Ute SV6 took the honours and was described by the Courier Mail's motoring editor, Mark Hinchliffe, as "simply the best-riding ute Australia has produced."

Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Chris Gubbey, said it was an award the whole of GM Holden should be proud to boast.

"To be recognised by car enthusiasts and consumers is a great honour. After all, this is who we build cars for," Mr Gubbey said.

"And because the VE Ute is a vehicle that's conceived, designed, engineered and built from the ground up by employees here in Australia, it makes it even more special.

"Australians have a unique relationship with the Holden Ute and it is fantastic to know that they are as enthusiastic about it as we are proud."

The Daily Telegraph's motoring editor, Kevin Hepworth, praised the car for demonstrating all the inherent benefits of a ute combined with the considerable styling and dynamic advances of the VE range.

"This is simply a fun car that can be driven with all the verve of a sports car, simply cruised along as a comfortable and competent transport, or put to work." Mr Hepworth said.

"Out on the road, the Ute really shines with a compliant suspension that soaks up the worst Australia's country roads can throw at it while relaxing back to a very comfortable highway cruiser."

Alan Jones, editor of carsguide.com.au, said he was delighted with the response to the inaugural carsguide Readers Choice award.

"It's a truly national award supported by News Limited newspapers in every state, and online via carsguide.com.au," Mr Jones said.

"With that level of response from across the country, you couldn't ask for a clearer result: the nation's heart still belongs to this latest iteration of arguably its most iconic car; the Aussie Holden Ute."

This is the first award claimed by the VE Ute which was launched in October and started arriving in Holden Dealerships earlier this month.

Swedish luxury - reconstructing luxury

Quiet beauty, rather than flashy bling. That is the essence of Swedish luxury. Designer entrepreneur and trend analyst Mathilda Tham jumps in a Volvo S80 Executive to go looking for the roots of Swedish style - and ends up in nature and tranquillity.

Luxury, throughout history, has stood for that which is rare and precious. In Western affluent society, with its abundance of consumer goods, it follows that commodities without a price tag, such as the experience of simplicity, silence, time, care and trust have become the new luxury.

With the Volvo S80 Executive, Volvo Car Corporation enters the luxury segment. But the company doesn't forget its core values: Safety and modern design.

These values are firmly rooted in the Swedish heritage - the quiet beauty of the landscape, the care about the environment and the attention to functional detail. Swedish luxury is quiet, simple, with a fine eye for exquisite details and intelligent functionality, following the ethos that ‘true beauty comes from the inside'. It offers an alternative to the flashy ‘bling' culture prominent in recent years and targets an audience with a confident, conscious and intelligent perspective, a customer that seeks a car that signals good taste.

Silvia Güllsdorf, project director of the new S80 Executive, says of the Swedish take on luxury:

"Swedes wear discrete and stylistically clean jewellery rather than chucky gold chains. Swedish furniture has a simple and pure aesthetic, yet offers high functionality. The refined and educated eye can understand both the design and the quality that is characteristic of Swedish luxury."

To understand the new dimension of luxury that Volvo Car Corporation offers with the Volvo S80 Executive we must explore the rich Swedish heritage.

"Stockholm's archipelago is Sweden's best secret, says José L. Diaz de la Vega , Chief Designer Strategic Design, Volvo Cars."

He has been with the company for seventeen years and describes how he loves the simple beauty of the Swedish landscape, a love he shares with the Swedes who cherish the country's beautiful lakes, wide meadows and open coastlines.
The landscape proved an important influence when the new Volvo S80 Executive was designed. Soft, yet distinct lines define the car's silhouette, and the gently curved instrument panel takes our thoughts to a meadow dressed in recently fallen snow.

The clean countryside and the Nordic light are translated into ingenious design solutions that create a home away from home, a haven. An important aspect of Swedish luxury is this very access to tranquillity, nature, space and time for solitude. In addition to safety, the car's spacious interior, and the craftsmanship of the hand-selected leather, offer an experience of feeling cared for. Such features communicate that time and thought have been dedicated by the design team to secure supreme comfort and safety.

The aim is to offer the customer a comfortable, dynamic and safe drive with full control over both the car and the surrounding traffic. The S80 is the first Volvo offering Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning and Brake Support. This system maintains a selected distance to the vehicle in front. If the gap closes so fast that a collision is likely, the system alerts the driver and pre-loads the braking system. To Swedes and to most people of the world, the ability to care about yourself and your passengers is an appreciated form of luxury offered by the S80 Executive.

Swedes, however, don't like to brag. Consequently, they have traditionally been careful about showing off. While Volvo has always been known as a safe car of the premium quality, it is now time to reinforce Volvo Cars' position in the luxury segment.

As Chief Designer Strategic Design José L. Diaz de la Vega explains it:

"Coming from another culture, it was obvious to me that Swedes traditionally have shunned the luxurious, it has been shameful to indulge. In recent years the luxury perspective of the continent has influenced the Swedes but it is clear that they seek more understated and intelligent pleasure. With the new Volvo S80 Executive we have cracked the code of the unique Swedish luxury. Our new luxury car radiates prestigious, yet celebrates the simplicity of modern Swedish design."

Wherever in the world you may live, you can indulge in Swedish luxury behind the wheel of a new Volvo S80. It is the luxury of driving comfortably, safely and in great style.

Nissan Arctix Sport Adventure X-Trail

Nissan will launch a special version of the 150PS 2.0dCi X-Trail known as ‘Arctix Sports Adventure’ providing additional specifications and automatic transmission for a price close to the standard manual version.

• ARCTIX 150PS 2.0dCi automatic £21,995 (OTR) – eXtreme roof rails and lamps with snowstorm side steps
• ARCTIX eXpedition 150PS 2.0dCi automatic or 173 manual £22,995 (OTR) - eXtreme roof rails and lamps with snowstorm side steps, satellite navigation and colour rear view camera
• On sale now with deliveries expected early January

With the winter ski season just about upon us, Nissan is providing the perfect travel partner in the form of a Nissan X-Trail Arctix. Powered by a fuel efficient 150PS 2.0dCi engine through a 6 speed automatic gearbox the vehicle is the ideal long distance traveller.

Should the weather conditions deteriorate the all-mode-i 4x4 drive system is designed to keep you sure footed to the road. If visibility is poor switch on the front fog lamps and eXtreme roof rail lamps, whilst on full beam, and see the road ahead light up. Uphill starts, greater than 10 degrees, are assisted by the brakes being applied for a short while after releasing the brake pedal and if the descent gets a bit steep, then the downhill drive support will ease you down gently and safely at no more than 4mph. Cruise control will make motorways a pleasure and once at your destination, the black and silver snowstorm side steps will aid your exit from the vehicle.

The boot has a wipe clean rear floor area along with 603 litres of storage space behind the rear seats, extending to 1773 litres with the rear seats folded down. Underneath is a double floor trunk section with a pull out drawer for storing smaller items. Longer items such as skis can be slotted through the ski hatch located between the rear Seat armrest. or, if preferred, clipped into an accessory ski roof rack* fitted between the standard eXtreme roof rails. Protecting the carpets are unique ARCTIX floor mats.

If you need help to get you to the European snow resorts then for a further £1000 the Nissan ‘Arctix eXpedition’ is equipped with Nissan’s acclaimed DVD navigation system. Covering 23 countries throughout Europe, it is the best way to eliminate any map reading arguments between driver and passenger. The system also incorporates a colour rear view camera to aid parking by showing a clear image of the view behind when reversing.

Arctix eXpedition comes with a choice of engines; the same 150PS 2.0dCi with automatic transmission or a higher powered 173PS 2.0dCi unit, linked with a manual gearbox, for the same price of £22,995 (OTR).

Trim and equipment details for Nissan Arctix and Nissan Arctix eXpedition X-Trail’s are similar to SPORT grade with 17 inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, CD autochanger with 6 speakers, Bluetooth® phone integration, climate control air conditioning, automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers. Upholstery is a charcoal coloured cloth weave whilst the exterior can be selected within a choice of six paint colours: Pearl White, Thundercloud, Twilight Grey, Ebisu Black, Atlas Blue and Chilli Pepper Red.

Vehicles will be available in showrooms from 2 January 2008 and come complete with Nissan’s peace of mind 3-year or 60,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first), 3-year paint and 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.

2008 Lexus LX 570 Features Mark Levinson Reference Surround

The introduction of the 2008 Lexus LX 570 all-new luxury utility vehicle, afforded Lexus' exclusive entertainment system partner, Mark Levinson, the opportunity to implement a discrete 5.1 surround sound system equal in both luxury and performance to the vehicle in which it will be housed. The result was Mark Levinson Reference Surround, a 19-speaker, 450-watt audio system initially designed for and launched on the 2007 LS 460 and now available for the first time in the all-new 2008 LX 570.

2008 Lexus LX 570

What Constitutes "Reference Surround?"

Mark Levinson Reference Surround was conceived and designed specifically for Lexus' flagship LS sedan. Building on the foundation of Mark Levinson's "next generation" Premium Surround Systems that have been firmly established in the marketplace by the new Lexus GS, IS and ES, the designers and engineers from Mark Levinson identified the differentiating performance objectives necessary to legitimately earn the "Reference" moniker: Timbre Accuracy, Timbre Matching and Dynamics.

Timbre Accuracy required the engineering of a new four-inch midrange transducer with an extended low-frequency response. The full fundamental bandwidth of a vocal tenor, for example, can be reproduced by this single midrange transducer without introducing timbral colorations and time-alignment problems typically encountered when using multiple transducers.

Timbre Matching is achieved by mating this new four-inch midrange with a one-inch titanium dome tweeter to create a high-performance, two-way system. Identical two-way systems are then employed in all seven channels, ensuring timbral matching. This creates a well-integrated, seamless 360-degree sound space in which the individual speaker locations seem to disappear, each performer is reproduced with full-range realism regardless of channel assignment, and the spatial intentions of the artist and engineer are made apparent.
Professional mixing engineers, endorsed by several academic acoustical organizations, have been utilizing the technique of identical speakers for all channels since the introduction of discrete surround sound.

Dynamics, the realistic contrast between the loudest and softest musical phrase or movie sound effect, are difficult to capture and reproduce without introducing compression and distortion. Mark Levinson engineering overcame this performance obstacle by designing all-new woofers and a subwoofer for the Reference Surround system: high-power, long-excursion 6x9 woofers for the front doors; 6.5-inch metal-cone woofers for the rear doors; and a 10-inch cast-basket high-power subwoofer housed in a 22-liter enclosure integrated into the rear passenger-side cargo area sidewall trim. All utilize powerful yet lightweight neodymium magnets. The new ML3-16 processor/amplifier, designed for the Reference Surround system, is configured to provide two bridged channels, 100 watts, to each of the front-door woofers and the integrated rear subwoofer. The combination of available power and transducers custom designed for this application successfully results in effortless and complete reproduction of the low-frequency portion of dynamic passages and movie effects with minimal levels of distortion and coloration.

Mark Levinson Reference Surround delivers the harmonic richness and superb musicality previously available only in high-end home and studio-reproduction applications. The emotional resonance and unerring clarity of your favorite musical and cinematic performances are reproduced effortlessly and faithfully, further enhancing the exceptional experience of owning and driving the all-new 2008 Lexus LX 570.

Mark Levinson Reference Surround Feature Highlights

19 Speakers – The LX 570 features seven one-inch tweeters, seven four-inch midranges, two 6x9 woofers, two 6.5-inch woofers, and one 10-inch cast basket subwoofer. The midranges, woofers and subwoofers were all custom designed specifically to achieve Mark Levinson Reference Surround's rigorous performance specifications.

15 Channels, 450 Watts – The all-new ML3-16 Mark Levinson Digital Signal Processor/Amplifier in the LX 570 produces a total power output of 450 watts, all channels driven, 20-20kHz @ less than .1% Total Harmonic Distortion. Retaining the high-performance design philosophy of Mark Levinson Power Amplifiers for home use, the amplifier circuitry in the ML3-16 is discrete, utilizing individual transistors, capacitors, and resistors. This technique provides a level of electrical and sonic performance not available from the integrated power circuits typically used in automotive audio systems.

Proprietary Metal-Cone 6.5-inch Woofers, Midranges, and Tweeters – Metal-cone and dome geometries offer greater cone rigidity and lower mass. Rare earth neodymium magnet/motor structures provide higher magnetic flux levels in a smaller and lighter transducer package. The sonic benefits of both technologies include the following:
– Lower distortion – higher resolution,
– Greater sound pressure levels – natural dynamics,
– Extended frequency response – harmonic richness and musicality.

10-inch High Power Subwoofer – Providing the deepest bass fundamentals from the most efficient, heat dissipating design possible, this neodymium magnet subwoofer is housed in a 22-liter enclosure, which allows the cast basket subwoofer to utilize 100 watts of low distortion power in the reproduction of high-energy, low-frequency effects and bass passages without taking up cargo space.

Discrete 5.1 Playback in a 7.1-Channel Surround Sound Speaker Architecture – Separate side and surround channels provide an extraordinary sense of envelopment and depth for front- and rear-seat passengers.

Mark Levinson Surround (MLS) Audio Software – This innovative, proprietary software intelligently creates a large sonic "sweet spot," positions phantom center-channel material within the soundstage as intended, and provides the full discrete 5.1 surround-sound experience to the rear-seat passengers. MLS also provides a surround-sound experience for stereo-source material such as CD, FM and satellite radio. MLS is the only expression of surround sound that has been specifically designed and optimized to overcome the acoustic obstacles of presenting surround sound in an automotive passenger cabin.

Media Compatibility – CD, CD-R, DTS 5.1 CD, DVD video, and DVD audio discs.

Format Compatibility – Two-channel stereo (analog and PCM), two-channel Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, MP3, WMA, and an auxiliary input for mobile audio products, enabling an iPod or other device to be connected directly to the LX audio system.

All-Digital Signal Path – Fragile audio signals are often transmitted from the front to the back of the car in an analog format, subjecting them to sonic degradation from noise and magnetic interference as well as numerous conversion processes between analog and digital. To avoid noise pickup and unnecessary, potentially degrading conversion steps, Mark Levinson Reference Surround transmits digital information from the disc to the discrete-topology power amplifiers via SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface Format); 24-bit word lengths are supported.

The LX Voicing – Over 4,000 man-hours of laboratory and on-road voicing optimize Mark Levinson Reference Surround for the specific acoustic characteristics of the LX 570 passenger cabin.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Garners Five Stars in Euro-NCAP Test

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has passed the European NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash tests with flying colours. The Saloon has therefore been awarded five stars and, according to the Euro-NCAP organisation, is one of the safest cars available on the market.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Euro NCAP Testing

This result is confirmation that the C-Class safety concept, optimised based on the analysis of real-life accidents, also performs extremely well in standardised rating crash tests. With seven airbags, seat-belt tensioners, belt-force limiters and NECK PRO crash-responsive head restraints fitted as standard, the Saloon offers its occupants an extremely high level of protection should an accident occur. The body structure has been designed to ensure that, in the event of a frontal collision, the impact forces are distributed over a wide area and on four independently acting impact levels, meaning that the passenger cell remains largely unscathed.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Euro NCAP Testing

Around 70 percent of all the bodywork panels are made from state-of-the-art, high-strength steel alloys that minimise weight and maximise safety. These steel grades also play a key role in protecting the occupants in the event of a side impact. The quadruple-skinned B-pillars and the side members, which absorb the bulk of any side-impact forces and channel these forces into the body structure, are made partially from ultra-high-strength, hot-formed high-tech steel.

The C-Class safety systems are based on a tried-and-trusted Mercedes concept that takes a holistic approach towards passenger-car safety, with the emphasis firmly on accident avoidance and anticipatory occupant protection.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Euro NCAP Testing

Standard-fit systems such as ESP® and Brake Assist aid drivers at critical moments and help them to remain fully in control should a dangerous situation arise. Accident statistics show that the number of accidents caused by skidding and head-to-tail collisions with serious consequences is reduced significantly if these Mercedes technologies are on board. In addition, Brake Assist also helps to reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians. Furthermore, the C-Class is the world's only car in this market segment to feature an anticipatory occupant protection system in the shape of PRE‑SAFE®. Available as an optional extra, this Mercedes-Benz innovation uses the time between detection of a potential accident situation and a possible collision to initiate preventive protective measures, thus reducing the loads exerted on the occupants in the event of an accident by up to 40 percent.

2008 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 GT

After repeated requests by enthusiastic SLR.Club members, Mercedes-Benz agreed to develop a track version of the SLR McLaren super-sportscar - the SLR McLaren 722 GT.

Developed by the British motor racing specialists at RML, the 722 GT has been comprehensively re-engineered for track use with more than 400 new or redesigned components. The 722's unique specification addresses the chassis, suspension, brake, and aerodynamic systems of the already capable SLR.Each of the 21 SLR McLaren 722 GTs offered for public sale produce 680 hp from their 5.5 liter kompressor V8 engines, and weigh in at 1390 kg (some 600 lbs. less than series production models).

ENGINE: The 5.5 liter kompressor engine in the 722 GT has been tuned to produce 680 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, making the 722 GT capable of 0-60 sprints in under 3.3 seconds.

SUSPENSION: RML gave the 722 GT new uprights front and rear, strengthening the suspension and delivering improved kinematics with better adjustability, allowing the trackside RENNtech technicians to tailor each 722 GT to the owner's unique driving style.

CHASSIS: An RML engineered, FIA approved rollcage does more than improve driver safety - the cage works to stiffen the SLR 722 GT's carbon fiber chassis further, allowing for better grip and improved control over wheel movements during cornering, acceleration, and braking.

AERODYNAMICS: An RML engineered, FIA approved rollcage does more than improve driver safety - the cage works to stiffen the SLR 722 GT's carbon fiber chassis further, allowing for better grip and improved control over wheel movements during cornering, acceleration, and braking.

SAFETY: The 722GT offers a no-nonsense motorsports interior with toggle switches, FIA spec. safety measures, lightweight seats, removable steering wheel with digital data-logger, and more.

AVAILABILITY: Only 21 examples of the SLR McLaren 722 GT will be offered for sale, and only a hand-full of those will be released to the North American market.

First Drive 2008 Renault Twingo

Beloved in France, the Renault Twingo that arrived in 1993 was undoubtedly one revolutionary little car. Small, but with a roomy (for its size) interior, the Twingo’s big round headlights and squat stance earned it the nickname of la grenouille (“the frog”). Roughly 2.4 million copies were sold during its life span, but after 14 years on the market and a couple of mild face lifts—plus countless special editions—the original frog had finally croaked its last. The new, more refined and mature Twingo arrived in France this past summer and officially bid adieu to the wide-eyed headlights and egg-shaped body of the original.

Unlike its equally new big brother, the Laguna, the tiny Twingo manages a smidgen of cuteness. Its tall greenhouse, very short front and rear overhangs, and upright silhouette have a jaunty charm. Far from being as adorable as the new Fiat 500, the Twingo is at least as visually appealing as the similarly sized Toyota Aygo or Volkswagen Fox. The Twingo’s 141.7-inch length (about four inches shorter than a Mini Cooper) makes it perfect for squeezing into tight parking spots and zipping through traffic.

Our Renault Twingo was in Initiale trim, which is a bizarre mix of luxury (leather seats and a large sunroof) and austerity (hard interior plastics, so-so stereo, and no tach). Thankfully, the Twingo manages to ride like a car one or two sizes larger, and the variable-assist power steering provide surprising amounts of feedback. The car’s simple strut-front suspension and torsion-beam rear axle provide a comfortable ride and soak up bumps well, in spite of the short, 93.1-inch wheelbase. However, even with a beefy, one-inch front anti-roll bar, the Twingo never gets close to what we’d call a sporty feel.

© Source: caranddriver

Lexus Announces Pricing for 2008 Lexus LX 570 Luxury Utility Vehicle

Lexus today announced the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2008 LX 570 luxury utility vehicle. The third-generation LX offers significantly increased performance and new safety features over the LX 470 model it replaces with a number of technological advancements and a new high-strength chassis.

2008 Lexus LX 570

The 2008 LX 570, with several new technology features, enhanced safety, performance and comfort, will carry a base MSRP of $73,800.

The LX 570 features a new 383-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission built to handle demanding tasks with smoothness and refinement. The powertrain advancements make the 2008 LX 570 engaging to drive while providing an increased towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. An electro-hydraulic system with four-wheel Active Height Control (AHC) and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) reacts more quickly and allows for a greater range of adjustment than the system it replaces.

With several first-in-class features, the LX 570 offers perhaps the most compelling combination of luxury, safety, on-road smoothness and off-road performance of any vehicle in its segment. The new Crawl Control regulates throttle and braking, allowing the driver to focus more on steering over particularly rough ground. In addition, LX 570 is the first Lexus to offer a new Wide-view Front & Side Monitor feature designed for use in certain urban settings such as parking garages. For enhanced occupant safety, the new LX 570 is equipped with a segment-leading 10 standard airbags and a segment-first Active Front Headrests. The optional Pre-Collision System with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is also a segment first.

The LX 570's standard luxury features include a four-zone climate control system, a first-in-class power sliding second-row seat, and a power-folding third-row seat. Options include a 19-speaker Mark Levinson® Reference Surround Sound audio system, Intuitive Park Assist, climate control front seats with heated second-row seats, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.

Honda Announces an All-New 2008 Honda Inspire for Japan

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced the release of the all-new Honda Inspire. The appeal of the new model has been dramatically strengthened with performance and comfort enhancements, yet the price range remains ¥3,300,000 to ¥3,900,000—very close to that of the previous model. The new Inspire will debut on Friday, December 21 at Honda dealers throughout Japan.

2008 Honda Inspire

In keeping with its status as a luxury sedan, the new, 5th-generation Inspire has inherited the sporty performance and quality feel of its predecessor, adding significant improvements to all essential elements of sedan performance—driving, cornering, and braking. The new Inspire is infused with dynamism and intelligence in all aspects of design, interior space, driving, and functionality.

The V6 3.5-liter i-VTEC engine, available for the first time in Japan, features an advanced Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that switches between six-, four-, and three-cylinder combustion depending on the driving conditions. This system is combined with numerous improvements to aspiration and combustion efficiency to achieve high output of 206kW (280PS) and high torque of 342N•m (34.9kg•m), and making the new Inspire the only domestic 3.5-liter-class sedan in Japan*1 to run on regular, unleaded gasoline. Fuel economy is also significantly enhanced.

The new Inspire is equipped with a full range of safety equipment. A driver and front-passenger i-SRS airbag system, front-seat i-side airbag system, and side curtain airbag system are standard equipment on all types, along with Honda’s original Advanced Compatibility Engineering body, which provides a high level of protection to vehicle occupants while also helping to reduce the force of the impact on the other vehicle during a collision. The 35iL also features Honda’s CMBS (Collision Mitigation Brake System) and E-pretensioners as standard equipment. CMBS determines if there is a danger of a rear-end collision and alerts the driver, further functioning to mitigate injuries and vehicle damage in the event of a collision.

In order to deliver the sort of direct handling feel and smooth ride comfort one expects in a luxury sedan, the new Inspire features a newly developed suspension, along with a lightweight, high-rigidity body for a lower center of gravity and reduced inertia. The interior design blends luxury with advanced functionality. A broad range of accessories provide all the amenities needed for a long drive, creating a relaxing, luxurious space that transports the vehicle’s occupants in comfort around town and on the freeway.

*1 According to Honda survey

Key Specifications

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The neat proportions of a luxury sedan with an exterior design that breathes powerful performance

· The new Inspire features the proportions of a sleek, sporty sedan.

· The front corners are boldly sculpted with wide, sharply delineated HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlights (low beams, with auto-leveling device) positioned to create a front view that provides a sensation of speed.

· The rear area of the cabin has been tapered to emphasize the bulging rear fenders. The impressive rear view is enhanced with large-diameter exhaust pipe finishers on dual exhaust pipes left and right.

Interior design combines elegant comfort with a refreshing driving environment

· The instrument panel is laid out horizontally in arcs that spread out to either side of the center panel, creating an elegant, relaxing space.

· The instrument panel’s wrap-around design spreads out from the center module where the audio and climate controls are clustered, flowing left and right to blend with the door lines.

· The center panel’s functional design positions visual displays on top and controls on bottom, for improved visibility and operability.

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A luxury sedan package that is easy to drive yet spacious enough to provide roomy comfort for all occupants

· The lower floor, longer wheelbase and more compact mechanisms all combine to secure ample interior space. For rear passengers, the tandem distance (a measure of the distance between front and rear seats) has been increased by 25mm*2 and the floor lowered to provide a more natural seating position. Knee space has also been increased by 35mm*2, while the couple distance for front occupants has been widened by 40mm*2 to secure an ample field of view for rear passengers.

· A thinner floor frame and slender fuel tank are employed along with optimized exhaust system layout to achieve a 15mm*2 reduction in floor height. This secures ample cabin height while contributing to enhanced driving performance and sporty styling.

· The trunk has been made 54mm*2 longer to create a spacious 510-liter*3 capacity for room to spare on long trips. The trunk and rear armrest through-holes facilitate loading of longer and larger items.

*2 Compared to previous model—Honda calculations
*3 Honda calculations according to VDA formula

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Newly developed V6 3.5-liter i-VTEC engine with VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) system combines powerful 280 horsepower output with outstanding fuel economy while cruising

· The V6 3.5-liter i-VTEC engine achieves high output of 206kW (280PS) and high torque of 342N•m (34.9kg•m), and make the new Inspire the only domestic 3.5-literclass sedan in Japan*4 to run on regular, unleaded gasoline.

· The newly advanced Variable Cylinder Management system, available for the first time in Japan, switches between six-, four-, and three-cylinder combustion depending on the driving conditions. The engine runs on six cylinders during startup, acceleration, and up hills, and on three cylinders while cruising. It can also run on four cylinders when driving at comparatively high speeds or under gentle acceleration—conditions under which the previous model would not have operated in cylinder idle mode—for improved fuel economy during high-speed driving.
· The engine offers outstanding clean performance, and has been certified by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as having achieved emission levels 75% below 2005 Japanese government standards.

· A 5-speed automatic transmission makes the most of the engine’s performance characteristics.

· Shift Hold Control reduces unnecessary gear changes during performance driving.

*4 According to Honda survey

Newly developed chassis delivers outstanding performance in both direct handling feel and smooth ride comfort

· The suspension features a double wishbone configuration in the front and a newly developed multi-link double wishbone design in the rear.

· VGR (variable steering gear ratio) is employed to deliver a smooth touch at the initial turn of the steering wheel, with the steering ratio quickening to increase wheel angle more rapidly as the steering wheel is turned farther. This results in handling that is surprisingly light for a vehicle of this size.
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A highly efficient body design that is lightweight and rigid with outstanding aerodynamics

· Strong, lightweight, high-tensile steel is employed in approximately 48% of the main frame components, improving torsional rigidity by some 20%*5 while also achieving major weight savings.

· Effective use of aerodynamic parts on the body’s underside and flush surfaces throughout result in outstanding aerodynamics.
*5 Compared to previous model—Honda calculations

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Quiet operation ensures comfortable driving by eliminating unpleasant noises while making the most of the powerful engine sound

· Active control engine mounts are employed to cancel out increased vibration when the engine is operating in cylinder idle mode. Engine vibration is estimated and actuators located inside the mounts expand and contract with the same phase and cycle to absorb vibration.

· Active noise control is used to generate sound opposite in phase to the engine drone produced when cylinders are idling. The frequency to be attenuated is determined based on engine revolution pulses and a signal to cancel the frequency is generated via an audio speaker, thus reducing the drone.
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Advanced functionality for enhanced security and comfort

· Avehicle speed and inter-vehicular distance control system helps reduce the burden on the driver during freeway driving. It assesses driving conditions using data from a millimeter-wave radar unit built into the front grille of the vehicle that measures the distance to the vehicle ahead for up to 100m within a 16° arc, along with data from vehicle speed and yaw rate sensors. In addition to maintaining the vehicle at a set speed, this cruise control system automatically regulates vehicle speed and distance depending on whether or not there is a vehicle in the same lane ahead.

· The Honda Smart Key System enables users to lock and unlock the doors, open the trunk, and operate the ignition simply by carrying it on their person.
· In addition to independent temperature controls for occupants in the front seats, the intelligent, dual fully automatic air conditioner*6 uses GPS information and a sunlight sensor to determine the direction and intensity of the sun’s rays and regulate temperature and air output accordingly.

· An electric rear sunshade, standard equipment on all types, shades rear seat occupants from strong sunlight for increased comfort.

· The new Inspire is equipped with the latest Honda HDD InterNavi System*7. InterNavi Premium Club provides services to enhance customer safety and comfort, providing weather and disaster information to support safe driving. It features the world’s first*8 heavy rain prediction information service.

*6 Standard equipment on the 35iL; factory option on the 35TL
*7 With rear camera (8-inch wide display; DVD/CD player with TV/AM/FM tuner, and cell phone input jack), 6 speakers, and ETC (Standard equipment on the 35iL; factory option on the 35TL)
*8 World’s first for use in a car navigation system

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Advanced safety functions and equipment that assess the danger of rear-end collisions to help prevent accidents

· Working in conjunction with the seatbelt E-pretensioners, the Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) helps anticipate collisions and mitigate injuries and vehicle damage should an accident occur. The CMBS alerts the driver to take preventive action and activates the brakes to reduce speed. The E-pretensioners automatically retract the seatbelts immediately before a collision occurs.

· The E-pretensioners (driver and front passenger seats) also retract the seatbelts when brake assist is activated due to sudden braking by the driver, even if the CMBS is not in operation.
· The Vehicle Stability Assist system (VSA), which improves handling stability while cornering, is standard equipment on all types. A side curtain airbag system that helps protect the head in the event of a side collision, a front-seat i-side airbag system with passenger-side body position detector, and a driver and front passenger i-SRS airbag system are also standard on all types.

· The vehicle’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body provides a high level of protection to vehicle occupants while also helping to reduce the force of the impact on the other vehicle during a collision.

· The vehicle is also designed to mitigate pedestrian injury in the event of a collision, particularly to the head and legs, thanks to the use of impact-absorbing structures.

· ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and brake assist is standard on all types.

· Honda’s original G-CON (G-force Control) technology is incorporated to create a body with a crash safety design that can withstand a 55km/h full-frontal collision, a 64km/h front offset collision, 55km/h side collision, and a 50km/h rear collision. To further improve safety in real-world collisions, Honda has implemented its own vehicle-to-vehicle collision testing program*9 with its own independently established standards. This collision testing is much more demanding than conventional tests, in which the car is crashed into a fixed barrier. The safety design of the new Inspire meets even these stringent testing requirements.

· Front active headrests reduce load on the neck area during a rear-end collision.

· ISO FIX-compatible child seat anchoring bars and tether anchors (left and right rear seats) are standard on all types.

*9 Testing involves a 50% front offset collision with a 2-ton class passenger car, with both vehicles traveling at 50km/h.

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Superior clean technology achieves outstanding environmental performance

· Complies with Japan emissions regulations for 2005.

· PVC use has been eliminated from interior and exterior components wherever possible to achieve over 90% recyclability*10.
· Meets reduction targets independently established by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).

· VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) levels have been reduced to within the indoor density guidelines set out by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to improve air quality inside the vehicle on all types, including those fitted with the leather interior.

*10 Calclations based on 1998 JAMA guidelines for defining and calculating new-vehicle recyclability.

2008 Honda Fit

The Fit belongs to a class—basic transportation—that we once acknowledged with a patronizing pat on the head but now take more seriously. There are two reasons for this. The first is obvious: Soaring fuel costs and environmental concerns are making small cars increasingly popular. The second is not so obvious: Basic transportation no longer means deprivation. Not only does the Honda Fit deliver what you’d expect—high mpg numbers and low ownership costs—but it also delivers something you might not: high-quality interior appointments, a high level of usefulness, and a high fun-to-drive index.

The Fit scores well in those areas of unexpectedness. There seems to be more room inside this car than the tidy exterior could possibly contain, the seats flop and fold to yield great cargo versatility, and the interior appointments would do justice to an Accord.

But it’s the Fit’s agility and terrier spirit that win our hearts. With 109 horsepower, blazing acceleration isn’t part of the deal, but it’s worth noting that the Fit posted an astonishing speed in our lane-change test (71.4 mph), outhustling pedigreed athletes such as a Ferrari F430 Spider F1, and topped a seven-car comparison.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon
BASE PRICE: $14,585
ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 16-valve 1.5-liter inline-4
Power (SAE net): 109 bhp @ 5800 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 105 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed auto, 5-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 5-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 96.5 in
Length: 157.4 in
Width: 66.2 in
Height: 60.0 in
Curb weight: 2500–2550 lb

First Drive 2008 Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet

Nothing turns heads like a sexy convertible wearing Pininfarina badges on its flanks. The Italian design firm is world famous for creating pulse-quickening exotic cars such as the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo. However, the Pininfarina-badged droptop we recently took for a spin proudly wears a blue oval in the center of its grille. The Ford Focus coupe-cabriolet is designed and built by Pininfarina at its factory in Turin, Italy, at a rate of roughly 20,000 per year.

It might not have a prancing horse or trident on its hood, but the Focus is hardly a shrinking violet when it comes to drawing attention. As we drove through posh Parisian neighborhoods—where any other Ford would be considered so déclassé—the coupe-cabriolet got plenty of admiring glances.

Interesting Design
The front end is filled with four large grilles, a pair of fog lights, and just the right amount of chrome to be tasteful but not tarty. A bold crease flows up from the headlights and hood before working its way to the C-pillar and over the trunk. Aggressive wheel-arch blisters add visual muscle without making the car look steroidal.

Driven at six-tenths and keeping wheels firmly on the pavement, the coupe-cabriolet is a relaxed, refined ride. One reason for this composure came about purely by chance, when Ford France was unable to provide us a coupe-cabriolet with the 143-hp, 2.0-liter Duratec inline-four. The company suggested we try the turbocharged 2.0-liter Duratorq diesel. A diesel-powered convertible? We had images of the Italian-chic Ford rattling and wheezing down the road like an asthmatic Fiat Panda. As it turned out, our worries were unfounded. With 134 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque at only 2000 rpm, the diesel makes easy work of stop-and-start city traffic and revs lazily at highway speeds. A short dip into the throttle at 50 mph, and suddenly the Ford lunges ahead as though a small V-6 were under the hood. Other than some valve clatter at idle, the torque-rich turbo-diesel proved a perfect match for the car.

© Source: caranddriver

2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata

So effortlessly does the MX-5 respond to your steering inputs that you can guide the car along the most writhing road at breakneck speeds without effort or even apparent thought. This connection between the driver’s brain and the MX-5 is replicated in the car’s throttle response, braking feel, and transmission, which benefits from one of the most direct shifters on the planet. It all makes for an immensely satisfying drive and proves that a car doesn’t need pavement-wrinkling horsepower to deliver driving enjoyment.

This motorized pleasure is accessible to all because the Mazda MX-5 starts at about $21,000 and is surprisingly practical for a sporting roadster. It has a trunk that provides room for a pair of soft duffels and is uncompromised by the position of the convertible top. The standard manual top is the easiest to use in the industry, completely operable from the driver’s seat, and the optional folding hardtop is a model of compactness and light weight.

It adds up to a car that is not only irresistible to anyone who likes to drive but can also put a smile on your face on your daily commute.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster
BASE PRICE: $21,180–$27,355
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4
Power (SAE net): 158–166 bhp @ 6700 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 140 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 5- or 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 91.7 in
Length: 157.3 in
Width: 67.7 in
Height: 49.0–49.4 in
Curb weight: 2400–2550 lb

Nissan Releases New Serena Minivan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the release of the new Serena minivan, which goes on sale at Nissan dealers throughout Japan. The new Serena, which has been highly acclaimed by customers for its class-leading interior roominess, excellent outward visibility, flexible seating configurations and driving ease, features revised exterior and interior styling, leading technology features and a new model lineup.

Marketed under the tagline "SHIFT_family ties," the Serena has been the top-selling minivan(*1) in the Japanese market in terms of cumulative sales for the first eleven months of 2007.

New Exterior Styling

Serena’s exterior styling has been enhanced with a more distinctive and modern front end design, including a new grille, new headlights, front bumper and fenders. The Highway Star model also features more dynamic front-end styling, with even stronger character lines.

Other exterior improvements include remote-controlled power-folding body-colored outside mirrors incorporating turn signal lamps on all models, redesigned wheel covers on the 20S model and the addition of AFS to bi-xenon headlamps as standard on the Highway Star model, and optional on all other models.

These additions improve upon an already highly practical and stylish minivan, with large side sliding doors and low floor height for easy entry and exit, standard sliding door automatic closing feature on both sides of all models and on the 20G model, standard remote-controlled automatic sliding side doors.

Eight body colors are available on the new Serena, including three new colors – a metallic Kingfisher Blue, a pearlescent Rose Red and a pearl metallic Cool Iron.
Revised Interior Amenities

Serena’s large interior provides ample legroom and headroom for comfortable long-distance travel and a cargo area that can easily accommodate large leisure equipment. Most notable about Serena’s interior is its versatility, with seats that are adjustable to 11 different positions and third-row seats that utilize assist springs for simple, easy operation.

The new Serena features a variety of interior enhancements, including revised instrument panel with standard Fine Vision instrumentation and new interior trim.

Special attention was paid to the new Serena’s seats, which feature new front- and second-row head restraints and Seat cushions, new Seat fabric, including the adoption of ATO-GUARD®(*4) treated Seat covers standard on the 20G model. Water-repellent fine velour Seat covers are available in a set with the personal table on the 20S and 20G models. Two types of seats are available.
Leading Technology, Comfort and Convenience Features

New available Serena technology equipment includes Nissan's advanced Around View Monitor(*2), a technology that is offered together in a set with the CARWINGS navigation system as a factory-installed option on the 20G and Highway Star models. The Around View Monitor combines with the wide outward view provided by Serena’s large glass areas, making Serena even easier to maneuver in tight situations.

Also new is an intelligent air-conditioning system which incorporates a one-touch automatic clean air filtering function, standard on the G20 and optional on other models.

Additional technical enhancements include an exclusive suspension system on the Highway Star model for more stable handling and improved ride comfort. A new Active Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) is also standard on the Highway Star model.
Environmental and Fuel Efficiency

The new Serena’s powerplant was designed with environmental efficiency in mind. To that end, it has been confirmed under the recently adopted Japan's JC08 mode(*3) that all two-wheel drive Serena models emit 75% fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) than the levels required under Japan's 2005 exhaust emission regulations. Four-wheel drive models also attain the same reduced emission levels under the 10-15+11 test mode.

Fuel economy for the two-wheel drive models has been clarified to closely match actual fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions, through tests conducted JC08 test mode, as well as on conventional 10-15 test mode data. To assist Serena drivers in matching those numbers, all models feature a new fuel consumption display function added to the liquid crystal display odometer and twin trip meter.
Pricing and Sales

Price range: 2,131,500 to 2,709,000, including consumption tax
Sales target: 5,800 units/month

Nissan Grand Lavinia introduced in Malaysia

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) launched today the all-new Nissan Grand Livina, one of a family of new global models from the company.

The Grand Livina is a mid-size 7-seater MPV, designed and engineered in the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, Japan, first introduced in China in 2006 followed by Indonesia, Taiwan & South Africa this year.

Aside from its elegant and modern design coupled with its luxurious and versatile interior, the Grand Livina provides a sedan-like ride, comfort and handling that is unparalleled in this class of mid-size MPVs - hence it's communication tagline, "Drive's Like A Sedan, Fits Like A MPV". The Grand Livina also comes with new generation Nissan engines that offer brisk performance coupled with exceptional fuel economy to meet the needs of Malaysian drivers.

Using a monocoque body structure, the Grand Livina is powered by either a 1.8L MR engine or 1.6L HR engine with CVTC (continuously variable valve timing control) for improved performance and fuel efficiency. The 1.8L model comes with the choice of a four-speed automatic transmission while the 1.6L version is equipped with either a four-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission.

Price range : On-the-road prices (inclusive of insurance, road tax, registration fee and ownership claim fee) valid for Peninsular Malaysia will be from RM82,800 to RM95,300 (from USD 24,800 to USD 28,600).

In Malaysia, the Grand Livina is assembled at the Serendah plant of Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn. Bhd.(TCMA). This new facility started production from August, 2007. TCMA invested 67 million US dollars for the new plant and has fully implemented the Nissan Production Way (NPW) which is Nissan’s international standard for global quality manufacturing and vehicle assembly.

“Today, we are very excited to introduce the 1st non-national CKD medium-size MPV in the 1.6 Liter & 1.8 Liter segment. We aim to capture 15% of the total MPV market with the Grand Livina and, in all, the Grand Livina is expected to contribute to as much as 30% of ETCM’s total sales,” said Dato’ DR Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd. “Grand Livina provides sedan-intenders an alternative choice for a high-quality and modern design with spacious and flexible seating.”

With momentum in new markets, Nissan plans to introduce this new family of global vehicles to more countries. During 2008, the Grand Livina will be introduced in the Philippines and the Livina into Indonesia. For each of those markets, the vehicles will be manufactured locally.

2004 Hummer H1

2004 HUMMER H1: ONE OF A KIND
"Unique." "The original." "The world's premier off-road vehicle." There are many ways to describe the HUMMER H1. Also fitting is "cornerstone," since it's the foundation upon which the HUMMER sales growth is built.

"The H1 is what started it all for HUMMER," said Michael C. DiGiovanni, HUMMER general manager. "It's the vehicle that drew the interest of adventurous consumers across the nation, as well as the interest of GM. It offers superior off-road capabilities rugged enough for the Baja and powerful highway performance."

More power and plenty of poise
HUMMER H1 is powered by a retuned 6.5L, turbo-diesel V-8 engine that for 2004 delivers 205 horsepower (152 kw) at 3400 rpm and an impressive 440 lb.-ft. (596 Nm) of torque at 1800 rpm. That's 10 horsepower (7 kw) and 10 lb.-ft. (14 Nm) of torque more than the 2003 powerplant. Yet enhanced performance is only part of the engine's story. The retuning also enables the 6500 to meet the more stringent emission requirements starting in 2004. It's mated to GM's Hydra-Matic 4L80-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. Over time, this transmission monitors the customer's driving technique and adjusts for driving style. The New Venture Gear Model 242 transfer case enables the driver to customize the drivetrain configurations to match virtually any terrain.

H1 has a four-wheel fully independent suspension system and variable-rate heavy-duty coil springs. The front suspension incorporates a large stabilizer bar to improve handling and reduce sway when cornering. The truck's four-channel ABS four-wheel power disc brakes are mounted inboard as a component of the axle assembly, making them less vulnerable to damage than conventional wheel-mounted components.

"There's still nothing else on the road today with the panache of the H1," said DiGiovanni. "No other SUV can match its off-road capability and no other SUV - and very few vehicles in general - have the attention-grabbing styling of the H1. It remains the foundation upon which to build the HUMMER future."

Rinspeed sQuba Concept Car features dive and drive

Mover Q your amphibious car designs are redundant, maybe they were good enough for the previous spies but the next-gen demands a more synced-up version. In case you need to take pointers, make sure you are there at the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th thru 16th, 2008), where Swiss design company Rinspeed will showcase their sQuba Concept Car. The makers claim that it is the world's first real diving car. And if its aquatic feats were not enough, the car can (at the push of a button) drive autonomously. It can dive to the depth of up to 10 meters (33 feet).

The "sQuba" fulfills Rinspeed's boss Frank M. Rinderknecht long cherished dream of creating something that marries fictitious movie concepts to reality. Thus taking inspiration from "The spy who loved me", sQuba features an electric motor with powerful torque that drives the rear wheels. The thrust on the water is ensured by two propellers in the stern and two powerful jet drives in the bow propel the vehicle under water while diving. The car promises zero emissions thus zero pollution to the water. The light weight body with components made of futuristic Carbon Nano Tubes encloses in a streamlined manner the driver and passenger who are supplied with fresh breathing air by the self-contained on-board system. Rinspeed sQuba Concept Car is a one-off car. No commercial production is planned.

2008 Bitter Vero

--- Specifications ----

Price about $175,576
Production --
Engine 6 liter V8
Weight --
Aspiration natural
Torque --
HP 362 hp
HP/Weight --
HP/Liter --
1/4 mile --
0-62 mph --
Top Speed --

The Bitter Vero is based on the Holden Statesman. Changes include different front and rear fascia, new hood, upgraded interior appointments, and improvements to the suspension and brakes.

2008 Nissan Forum Concept

Though minivan sales have cooled significantly in the past five years, American families snap up more than a million minivans annually. Brands like Ford, Nissan, and GM may have pulled back from minivans entirely but Chrysler, Honda and Toyota are still dedicated to providing buyers with those traditionally flavored family movers.

The Forum concept isn't unrecognizable to minivan drivers and owners. It has the big box in back for kids and cargo, but Nissan designers have gone with a higher beltline, styled side glass and a wider stance, to give a more sporty feel to the traditional one-box van. Emphasizing that theme is a curvaceously sweeping grille that is accented by a soft LED light bar. While Nissan hasn't eliminated the sliding doors that parents love, it has carefully hidden their tracks.

The front doors swing open to a 90-degree angle. Further enhancing the sense of spaciousness, the Forum's sides have lost the typical B-pillars that would reinforce the middle of its body; instead, designers have penned in stronger door and roof frames. Atop the Forum, the huge SkyView roof contains hidden sunshades, permitting the glass to be closed off on hot days.

Nissan has even built in a pair of "Kids Cams," which can be displayed on the instrument panel's LCD monitor. If a little discipline is needed, there's also a "Time Out" system, which will mute all audio devices - and broadcast the driver's voice on all the Forum's speakers.

Under the hood, the Forum features a clean diesel engine, like the one the automaker is planning to offer in the next new Maxima sedan. It's mated to a version of the mileage minded continuously variable transmission (CVT) Nissan has been rolling out throughout its global product lineup.

Whether the Forum will take a place in the Nissan lineup is unclear. It's obvious that the automaker is looking for an acceptable alternative to its slow-selling Quest minivan. If the Forum gets people talking the idea up during the coming auto show season, Nissan very well could find a place for this new people mover.

2008 Chevrolet Equinox Review

Introduction
With lots of functional cabin space for a vehicle of its size, the well-equipped Chevrolet Equinox has been a popular choice for a small SUV in recent years. Owners enjoy the Equinox's roomy cabin -- the rear seats slide fore and aft to boost cargo room or legroom when needed -- and often comment favorably about the vehicle's power and fuel efficiency.

For 2008, Chevrolet injects more style and performance into the Equinox. Leading the way is a new high-performance Sport model complete with lowered ride height and a new 3.6-liter V6 good for 40 percent more power over the standard 3.4-liter V6 engine. Chevrolet promises a 0-60-mph acceleration time under 7 seconds. The Sport's hydraulic power steering also addresses one of our Equinox criticisms that related to lackluster steering response on lesser versions. Like its stablemates, it offers the option of all-wheel drive.

For those who instead desire more refinement and luxury, the new Equinox LTZ is differentiated by bright exterior accents, heated leather seats, upgraded premium audio and head curtain side-impact airbags. The LTZ also benefits from the same enhanced ride and handling package as LS and LT models, consisting of retuned shocks, spring rates and hydraulic bushings.

Powertrains and Performance
All 2008 Chevy Equinox trim levels are available with a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Non-Sport models are equipped with the standard 3.4-liter V6 engine coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. With 185 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque, this engine offers respectable performance that should please most owners. The Sport model substitutes one of the most powerful engines for this class, a 3.6-liter V6 cranking out 264 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. It's hooked up to a six-speed automatic with manual shift control.

Lexus Announces Pricing on Certain 2008 Models and 2009 RX 350

Lexus announced Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) today for the 2008 ES 350, LS 460, and IS model luxury sedans, and the 2008 RX 400h and 2009 RX 350 luxury utility vehicles.

The ES 350 entry luxury sedan MSRP will increase 0.3 percent, or $100, to $33,820. The IS entry luxury sport sedans will increase 0.3 percent overall, or $100.

2008 Lexus RX 400h

The IS 250 rear-wheel drive model with a manual transmission will carry an MSRP of $30,555, while the IS 250 rear-wheel drive automatic will have an MSRP of $31,725. The IS 250 all-wheel drive and the IS 350 models will have an MSRP of $34,185 and $36,005, respectively. The MSRP for the LS 460 flagship luxury sedan will increase 0.8 percent, or $500, to $62,000 for the LS 460 and $72,000 for the LS 460 L.

The 2008 RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.2 percent overall, or $100, to $41,280 for the RX 400h front-wheel drive, and $42,680 for the all-wheel-drive model.

The 2009 RX 350 luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.3 percent, or $100. The front-wheel-drive RX 350 will have an MSRP of $37,500, while the RX 350 all-wheel drive will carry a base price of $38,900.

Mid-year price adjustments on the 2008 models are effective with vehicles arriving in the U.S. beginning December 18, 2007. RX 350 pricing changes are effective on 2009 models arriving at dealerships in early February 2008. MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.

2008 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan

The new Saab 9-3 range features bold, more assertive looks, reflecting a series of powertrain improvements that include the introduction of all-wheel-drive and more powerful diesel, gasoline and BioPower (E85)engines.

The distinctive frontal styling,inspired by Saab’s award-winning Aero X concept car, is designed to reinforce the range’s sporty appeal.

2008 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan

It heralds the introduction of a‘tri-fuel’ engine line-up that now includes, an innovative 180 hp(132 kW), twin-stage 1.9 turbo diesel, an uprated 280 hp (206 kW), 2.8V6 turbo gasoline engine and an additional 175hp 2.0t Saab BioPower option, delivering 200 hp (147 kW) on E85fuel.

The advanced all-wheel-drive system (Saab XWD - ‘cross wheel drive’) is exclusive to 9-3 AeroSport Sedan and SportCombi models. It features innovative developments in wheelslip management and the use of an electronically-controlled rear limited-slip differential.

The new 1.9-liter two-stage turbo diesel offers class-leading efficiency and is the first diesel engine in the premium segment to use an integrated two-stage tubocharging system.

Progressive Design

* Dynamic, cohesive looks with new front, rear and side aspects
* Frontal styling inspired by Aero X concept
* ‘Clamshell’ hood, clean body surfaces, smoked white rear light lenses

The new 9-3 range is visually distinguished by all-new bodywork forward of the A-pillar, with new bumper moldings and light assemblies front and rear, as well as new doors and handles for the SportSedan and SportCombi. Flared side sill extensions become standard across the range. All these elements combine to give the car a clearer Saab identity and a bolder, more assertive stance. For the Sport Sedan, for example, 70% of the external body panels and parts are all-new.

The styling strategy brings together contemporary and classic Saab design themes in a progressive,modern expression of the brand’s distinctive character.

The deeper, more prominent evolution of the Saab grille adopts a theme first seen on the Aero X concept car. This is complemented by all-new headlamp lenses and light units that now incorporate a thin ‘eyebrow’ lighting zone designed as a brand specific ‘signature’ feature. These wraparound units culminate in an upswept rear edge, introducing a Saab design theme from the 9-5 range and classic 900 model. The grille’s central wing motif, referencing Saab’s aircraft heritage, is, of course,retained.

The new look sees the adoption of another Saab signature feature: a ‘clamshell’ hood,closing across the top of the front wings. The hood pressing incorporates a sweeping, U-shaped styling line, as first seen on the Aero X, which echoes the curvature of the windshield.

The swept-back frontal lines are complemented by a front bumper and splitter assembly with a deep, trapezoidal air intake, even more pronounced on Aero versions. This is flanked by deep black vents which are framed, like the grille,in a matte chrome finish. As with the Aero X concept, these represent a metaphor for the intakes of a jet engine.

At the rear, the SportSedan and Convertible now feature smoked white light clusters. The new bumper moldings are much deeper with curved, uninterrupted surfaces. The trunk lids ofthe Sport Sedan and Convertible are also altered to accommodate a new matte chrome life handle trim with an integrated badge, similar that on the SportCombi.

The removal of all external rubbing strips from bumpers and doors (color-keyed on the Convertible)contributes to a cleaner and more cohesive overall appearance. New door panels now adopt a simple, uncluttered form with redesigned and color-keyed handles.The sill extensions are visually integrated front and rear with the scalloped corners of the new bumper moldings.

Other external enhancements include the introduction of flat wiper blades, for reduced wind noise, and new alloy wheels, with an 18-inch design now offered as an option on all variants apart from 1.8i models. Two new colors are added to the range, including a SnowSilver metallic paint finish similar to that seen on the Aero X.

Sporty Driver Focus

* Intelligent Saab XWD offers greater driver involvement
* Active system for class-leading performance,up to 100% rear torque transfer
* Cutting-edge technology: pre-emptive engagement and active rear LSD
* New rear sub-frame and suspension geometry

The active, all-wheel-drive system (Saab XWD) is designed to optimize handling and stability in all driving conditions. It is offered on Aero versions of the 9-3 Sport Sedan and SportCombi, in combination with an uprated 280 hp (206 kW), 2.8V6 turbo engine which delivers almost 15% more maximum torque (400 Nm) to exploit the greater traction available. It comes with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

This state-of-the-art system includes two innovative features: pre-emptive engagement of the rear wheels to optimize traction at take-off; and an active rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), allowing variable torque transfer between the rear wheels.

Saab XWD is a fully automatic, on demand system and sends torque to the rear wheels based on the driving condition. Torque distribution front and rear is always optimized. While offering new Saab 9-3 Aero owners sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions,its sophisticated operation also adds a further sporty dimension to the driving experience in all road conditions. Fine balancing of the drive torque between the front and rear axles raises the threshold at which ESP throttle and braking interventions are triggered, providing more scope for closer driver involvement.

The system is governed by its ownelectronic control unit, which functions in harness with the engine,transmission and ABS/ESP control modules. The hardware consists of a Power Take-off Unit (PTU) in the front final-drive that transmits engine torque through a prop-shaft to the Rear Drive Module (RDM). This incorporates a Torque Transfer Device (TTD) and an optional electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential (eLSD). Both are wet, multi-plate clutch units from Haldex.

At take-off from rest, the TTD is initially activated when the clutch plates are forced together under hydraulic pressure, thereby engaging the RDM. This pre-emptive function is a valuable improvement in current technology, which requires the detection of wheel slip before the TTD is activated. For the driver, the enhanced functionality gives maximum traction immediately for smooth, strong acceleration from rest without the possibility of any initial hesitation.

On the open road,drive torque is seamlessly and continuously varied between the axles by the control of a valve in the TTD, which increases or reduces the pressure on the wet clutch plates. When cornering, Saab XWD rewards the driver by providing enhanced, more finely balanced chassis dynamics. Data from the vehicle’s ABS/ESP sensors - measuring wheel speed, yaw rate and steering angle – is utilized, and careful programming of Saab XWD enables the application of rear drive to balance oversteer and understeer characteristics, improving stability and road holding.

In highway cruising conditions, when traction or optimum grip is not an issue, only 5% to10% of engine torque is typically transmitted to the rear wheels. This helps provide the driver with a measure of greater stability, while helping to save fuel.

The ultimate ‘icing on the cake’ with Saab XWD is the eLSD option. This is the first application of an electronically-controlled, rear limited slip differential in this segment of the market. The eLSD is installed alongside the RDM and operates via pressurized clutch plates on a principle similar to the larger TTD. In icy or wet split-friction conditions, for example, it uses inputs from the rear wheel speed sensors and can transfer up to 40% of torque between the driveshafts, to whichever wheel has more grip.

The eLSD also gives the driver enhanced control when cornering hard or completing a high speed maneuver, such as a lane change, by momentarily applying more or less torque to either of the wheels to help the rear of the car more closely follow the direction of the front wheels. This yaw damping effect can keep the car better balanced and more tightly controlled, without requiring ‘outside’ intervention from electronic stability aides.

Installation of Saab XWD includes the fitment of a new rear sub-frame to carry the RDM, revised rear suspension geometry and new wheel hubs for the drive shafts. The three piece prop-shaft runs through two bearings with constant velocity joints for smooth running with minimal ‘wind-up’. Wheelbase and rear track dimensions are unaltered.Saab XWD will be available from the beginning of next year.

Other driving enhancements include:

Sport Mode standard for automatic transmissions. This can be selected via an instrument panel button and aligns gear selection more closely with the intentions of the driver.If the driver momentarily lifts of the throttle, the current gear will be held for more effective engine braking and a quicker acceleration when required.During braking, downshifts are also faster and more closely matched to the rate of vehicle deceleration.

Optional cornering bi-xenon headlights provide improved vision. The steering-linked bulbs can swivel up to 15 degrees when negotiating a bend or corner above 15 kph. In highway driving above 110 kph, the low beam is also automatically raised slightly for improved illumination.

Responsible Performance

* Class-leading two-stage diesel turbo engine
* Extension of Saab BioPower
* More power for 2.8V6 turbo in combination with Saab XWD

New 1.9 TTiD engine
The 9-3 range features a powerful new four cylinder diesel engine with a unique two-stage turbocharging system, a world ‘first’ in the premium car segment, giving class-leading levels of efficiency. The 1.9-liter, 16-valve engine, badged TTiD,produces 180 hp (132 kW) and 400 Nm of maximum torque, specific power outputs that are unmatched among competitor products on the market. With combined fuel consumption of 5.9 l/100k projected for the Sport Sedan, this engine also offers class-leading economy, together with in-gear performance on a par with the 2.8V6turbo gasoline engine.

The two-stage turbocharger housing is integrated with the exhaust manifold and contains two turbochargers of different sizes. The pair of turbine/compressor wheels are sequentially mounted and each is able to by-pass the input and output feeds of the other, while also being able to operate in tandem.

This arrangement provides a driver with ‘the best of both worlds’: good, instant torque at low engine speeds - via the low-inertia small turbo when the exhaust pressure is light - and strong ‘top end’ power at higher revolutions, when the bigger turbo is engaged.

Saab’s two-stage turbocharging uses a system of by-pass valves that directs the exhaust gas stream between the two turbine wheels and also separates the air intake charge from the compressors. From tick-over to 1,500 rpm the exhaust feeds only the small turbo. Between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm the flow is split between both turbines, giving stronger boost and ensuring a smooth transition phase to full power operation, above 3,000 rpm, when only the larger turbo is engaged.

The compact design provides more efficient packaging than systems using two separate turbochargers linked together externally in series. It ensures that the complex control and regulation of gas flows on both the exhaust turbine and intake compressor sides is achieved with a minimal number of seals and connections.

The TTiD engine is a substantialdevelopment of the current 16-valve 1.9TiD unit, using common rail, direct and multiple fuel injection. It operates with a maximum boost pressure of 1.8 bar(1.4 bar for the current engine) together with a slightly lower compression ratio of 16.5: 1 (17.5:1). The cast-iron block, alloy cylinder head and all internal components are strengthened as necessary to withstand the higher thermal pressures.

The exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) system is characterized by extremely efficient cooling and now includes an electronically controlled by-pass for improved emissions. This feature, together with the fitment of a maintenance-free exhaust particulate filter, is expected to ensure compliance with more stringent future Euro 5emissions standards.

Other technical enhancements include the adoption of a larger air-to-air intercooler,for better cooling of the intake charge; the introduction of more efficient pre-heating elements inside the cylinder head, for faster starting in cold conditions; and the use of a weight saving plastic intake manifold.

The Saab TTiD engine meets a growing demand from drivers unwilling to sacrifice performance in the interests of fuel economy. With power characteristics typical of a much larger engine, it is an example of Saab’s commitment to ‘right-sizing’, the achievement of ‘big’ engine performance without the usual drawbacks,such as extra weight, bulk and higher fuel consumption.

In recognition of its outstanding performance, the Saab TTiD engine is available in Aero specification, as well as Linear and Vector. It is offered in all three bodystyles, in addition to the current 120 (88 kW) and 150 hp (110 kW) 1.9 TiD engines, with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

New 2.0tBioPower
Saab leads Europe’s emerging flex-fuel segment with its unique BioPower concept. This combines turbocharging with the use of E85 fuel to deliver increased engine power and performance, as well as greatly reduced fossil CO2 emissions. The new Saab 9-3range now features the introduction of a more powerful BioPower engine, in addition to the current option.

Running on E85 fuel (85%bioethanol/15% gasoline), the new 9-3 BioPower 2.0t engine delivers 14% more maximum power (200 hp/147kW v 175 hp/129 kW) and 13% more torque (300 v 265 Nm).In the Sport Sedan, this gives projected zero to 100 kph acceleration in 7.9 sec and 80 to 120 kph in fifth gear in 10.0 sec, compared to 8.5 sec and 11.1 sec,respectively, on gasoline.

E85has a higher octane rating (104 RON) than gasoline (95 RON), and turbocharging with Saab BioPower allows the use of a higher boost pressure and more advanced ignition timing than is possible with gasoline. This gives more engine power,without risk of harmful 'knocking' or pre-detonation.

Saab’s 32-bit Trionic 8engine management system controls the throttle setting, ignition timing, fuel injection, air mass and turbo boost pressure. It is a powerful platform that has facilitated software re-programming to accommodate the different ignition timing and fuel/air mixture requirements of E85. The only hardware modifications necessary to the all-aluminum Saab 9-3 engine are the fitment of more durable valves and valve seats. Bioethanol-compatible materials are also used in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

Trionic monitors fuel quality after every visit to the filling station and automatically makes any adjustments necessary for running on E85 and/or gasoline in any combination.That means Saab BioPower drivers can also use gasoline, should E85 not be available.

Uprated 2.8V6Turbo
For the new 9-3 Aero XWD models, the current 2.8-liter, 24-valve V6 Turbo engine is uprated to 280 hp(206 kW) and 400 Nm maximum torque. This has been achieved to by increasing available boost pressure from 0.5 to 0.8 bar. It gives the Sport Sedan projected zero to 100 kph accelerationin6.3 seconds and 80 to 120 kph (fifth gear) in 7.9 seconds.

The advanced specification includes: a lightweight, all-aluminum construction; variable inlet valve timing; a twin-scroll turbocharger and hydroformed exhaust manifolds with stainless steel liners and air injection for improved cold starting. In two-wheel drive applications, this engine now offers a 5 hp (4 kW) increase in maximum power, to 255 hp (188kW).

Other enhancements include:

Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM). This warns the driver if pressure in any of the tires drops below the recommended level. Sensors in the valves initiate a radio signal and a warning message is illuminated in the main instrument display, indicating which wheel(s) has lost pressure. TPM is offered as option on Aero models and comes as standard if 18-inch wheels are specified.

Bose Centerpoint SurroundSound audio. Available as an option on all Sport Sedan and SportCombi variants, this offers exceptional reproduction quality through five channels from CD, MP3 or XM digital radio sources. Surround sound quality is automatically provided even if a CD is not encoded for it. With 11 (sedan) or 10(combi) speakers, performance is optimized for the acoustic requirements of each passenger cabin.

2008 Saab 9-5

The Saab 9-5 Sedan and SportCombi range is a clear expression of the sporty and multi-dynamic appeal of the Saab brand. Distinctive styling and strong turbocharged performance are combined with outstanding ride comfort, responsive handling and high levels of crash safety.

Positioned in the upper medium segment of the premium car sector, the Saab 9-5 range provides a more individual, self-expressive choice in a marketplace crowded with more commonplace competitors, such as the BMW 5-series, Audi A6, Mercedes E-class and Volvo S80/V70.

2008 Saab 9-5 Aero Sport Sedan

The all-turbo powertrain line-up leads the premium segment in offering a 'tri-fuel' choice of gasoline, diesel or bioethanol powered engines. The range is led by the high performance, 260 hp/ 191 kW Saab 9-5 Aero and includes a powerful yet frugal 150 hp/ 110 kW 1.9TiD option and two Saab BioPower variants offering enhanced performance from E85 (85% bioethanbol/15% gasoline) fuel.

Exterior Design

* Bold, distinctive exterior looks, including dramatic evolution of traditional three-port Saab 'face'.

* Saab styling cues: wedge-shaped profile, ‘clam shell’ hood, 'hockey stick' curvature to C-pillars, oval door handles and triangular-shaped 'cut-out' front indicator and rear light housings

* Color-keyed exterior detailing and integrated bumper moldings. Projector-style headlamp units and flush-mounted rear light clusters

* SportCombi designed as a separate model with unique bodystyling from B-pillar rearwards

* Raked, ‘wraparound’, rear window for SportCombi emphasises sporty character

* Highly competitive 0.29 Cd for sedan and 0.32 Cd for SportCombi

Interior Design and Features
The spacious interior features a ‘cockpit-like’ driving environment and superb seating. The bold, sweeping contours of the cabin and the matte chrome finish to the controls and instrumentation complement the looks of the exterior styling.

* 'Black Room' interior design theme adds sporty interior ambience with all-black door cappings, front fascia and carpeting.

* Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control fitted as standard, allowing the driver and passenger to select a different temperature setting.

* 'ComSense' functionality minimizes potential for driver distraction through 'dynamic workload management', briefly suppressing in-car warning messages/phone calls when moments of high driver workload is detected.

* Saab ‘Night Panel’ restricts instrument illumination and visual ‘clutter’ to reduce distraction during night driving.

* Infotainment options include a choice of three audio systems, all with an auxiliary input socket, and DVD/GPS satellite navigation with a large 6.5-inch color monitor and touch-screen operation

* Optional double front sun visors include a second flap that unclips and can be swivelled to shield the upper side window, making driving into a low sun on a winding road much less distracting.

* Generous on-board storage: pouches on front seat squabs, storage net in front passenger footwell, chilled glovebox, center console with armrest, optional bag hooks in trunk and rear ski-hatch for sedan.

* Adaptable load-carrying for sedan (foldable rear seat) and SportCombi (flat-bed rear deck and cargo securing tracks)

* First passenger car to offer ventilated front seats for additional comfort

* Two interior trim levels or 'forms': Linear and Vector, plus top-of-the-line Aero specification

Powertrain

The all-turbo powertain offers a bioethanol fuel choice - Saab BioPower - in addition to gasoline and diesel. Ranging in power from 260 hp/ 191 kW to 150 hp/ 110 kW, all engines deliver characteristically strong, mid-range torque for safe, secure overtaking.

* All gasoline and BioPower engines controlled by sophisticated Saab Trionic engine management system simultaneously measuring and adjusting ignition timing, fuel injection, turbo boost pressure and the electronic throttle for optimum combustion.

* 260 hp/ 191 kW 2.3 turbo Aero engine leads the range and includes a 'superboost' function, briefly raising torque to exceptional 370 Nm.

* Choice of 150 or 185 hp (110, 136 kW) turbo engines, all with counter-rotating balancer shafts for excellent running refinement, complete gasoline line-up.

* 150 hp/110 kW 1.9TiD engine, with maintenance-free exhaust particulate filter, delivers strong performance and good fuel economy. Maximum torque of 320 Nm exceeded only be Aero engine.

* Unique Saab BioPower engines, 2.0t (180 hp/132 kW) and 2.3t (210 hp/154 kW) on bioethanol-based fuel (E85), giving environmental benefits of reduced CO2 emissions as well as even sportier performance. Flex-fuel capability, able to run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85.

* Automatic transmissions include Saab Sentronic manual selection via steering wheel buttons

Chassis

Responsive chassis dynamics offer a sporty and rewarding driving experience, with dampers, springs and anti-roll bars all tuned for sharp steering and handling without loss of ride quality and comfort. Front wheel drive provides predictable, secure handling.

* Chassis responses communicated through the steering wheel and driver’s seat, with the seating position located as close as possible to vehicle's center of gravity

* Isolated front and rear sub-frames provide excellent ride refinement by helping to prevent road noise, shocks and vibrations entering the passenger cabin.

* De-coupled MacPherson strut front suspension separates spring and damper load paths into the front structure, improving iisolation from road shocks and improving the separation of ride and handling characteristics.

* Multi-link, independent rear suspension for improved wheel control and ride quality

* Low-mounted steering rack with short tie rods for excellent steering response and precision.

* Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), a switchable electronic Traction Control System (TCS), ABS and a Saab-developed electronic stability program (ESP®) all fitted as standard.

* 10 mm lowered, sports-tuned chassis and brakes for top-of-the-line Aero models

Safety

The Saab 9-5 range benefits from high crash safety levels, as demonstrated by the sedan’s maximum 5-star Euro-NCAP crash test rating and the findings of accident injury surveys by the Highway Loss Data Institute in the United States and Sweden's Folksam insurance company. It is the product of Saab's 'real-life ' safety strategy, incorporating lessons learnt from a detailed analysis of more 6,100 actual road accidents involving Saab cars on Swedish roads.

* Front deformation zone distributes crash forces along three separate load paths
* Predictable frontal deformation almost irrespective of point of impact
* Strong safety cage with joints designed to resist tearing
* Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR) help prevent neck injury in rear impacts
* Unique ‘pendulum’ B-pillars divert and spread side impact forces
* Two-stage front airbags deployed according impact severity and seat position
* Seat-mounted side impact airbags help provide head and chest protection
* All seating positions have 3-point seat belts include pre-tensioning and load-limiting for front occupants
* Rear seat designed for shifting load protection

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer

The all-new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer brings the bold, dynamic and taut lines of the company's show-stopping Concept-X to the showroom. The stunning Concept X previewed not only the next generation compact sport sedan from Mitsubishi, but also a new design language to convey an unmistakable brand identity. The exciting new design serves as the perfect showcase to package the 2008 Lancer's European-inspired driving dynamics, refined interior appointments and impressive equipment levels.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS

The new Lancer offers a distinctive interpretation of the new Mitsubishi design language - first seen on the new-generation Outlander - that conveys the performance-oriented essence of the brand. Variations on the aggressive-looking front end, in particular, will be seen on more future Mitsubishi models.

Dimensionally, the new-generation 2008 Lancer projects a tighter, more confident road-hugging stance. The new Lancer is built on a longer wheelbase and wider track, but with a slightly shorter overall length. A 2.3-inch increase in both the front and rear track dimensions - now 60.2 in. - contributes to Lancer's solid, stable handling capability as well as its strong visual presence.

Wheelbase was lengthened to 103.7 in. from 102.3 in, and overall width was increased by nearly three inches from 66.7 in to 69.4 in. A 2.3-inch gain in overall height directly translates into increased headroom. Vehicle length has been reduced by 0.6-in. The overall design emphasizes the wheels, an effect that is especially pronounced with the GTS model's standard 18-in. alloy wheels and 215/45 R18 tires.

Sharks and Jets

Starting in front, Lancer's grille, bumper and lower air intake are unified in a distinct form inspired by jet fighter air intakes for a "shark nosed" effect. Although the all-new Lancer proportions draw some inspiration from European designs, the sharp, thin front head lamp design conveys the feel of Japanese precision and technology that strongly appeals to the target market.

The new-generation 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is available in three levels of trim and driving dynamics: DE, ES and the sport-tuned GTS. The Lancer ES model projects a more refined appearance with 5-spoke 16-in. alloy wheels, color-keyed door handles and mirrors and a chrome grille surround. The GTS's styling is even more aggressive than other Lancer models, with its 10-spoke 18-in. alloy wheels, front and side air dams, standard fog lights, a rear spoiler and a chrome tailpipe tip.

Chiseled Profile

The clean, creased surfaces sweep into the side profile, with its dynamic daylight opening and high, wedged, belt-line. The prominently flared fenders recall the brand's Evolution heritage and World Rally Championship (WRC) cars, and, particularly on the GTS model, emphasize the 18-inch alloy wheels in the overall sleek side silhouette.

The Lancer is meant to be as distinctive from the rear as from the front. The solid structure of the side shoulder sweeps from the head lamps all the way back into the rear to frame the high-mounted lamp clusters, unifying the design theme.

The sculptured, "chopped off" tail accentuates the car's sporty cabin shape. From a front three-quarter view, the rear overhang is visually shortened by a chiseled, tapering rear bumper side surface.

The tail lamp clusters themselves are like small works of techno art, enclosing three trimmed circles divided by function. The Illumination simulates LED lighting. The distinctive, chopped tail and unique taillights form the ideal frame for the large, distinctive Mitsubishi three-diamond brand mark.

The Color of Performance

A new color palette reinforces the Lancer design's strength and presence. The 2008 Lancer offers a choice of eight exterior colors: Graphite Gray has a strong mechanical quality; Apex Silver conveys a forged, mechanical look; Aqua Green is a fashion-inspired aqua-tinted silver with a metallic sheen; Electric Blue is a vivid and translucent take on one of today's hottest colors for sporty cars; Rally Red is a brilliant, premium red evoking the brand's WRC competition vehicles; Tarmac Black gives Lancer an amethyst-like glow; Wicked White has a sharp sophistication, and finally, Desert Beige adds a touch of elegance. All colors except Wicked White are metallic.

Lancer Interior Offers "Class-Up" Design and Features

Just as the new-generation 2008 Lancer brings a new level of exterior design sophistication, its interior also shows a new international flair. In addition, its generous feature content reflects the brand's focus on delivering "class-up" customer value in its vehicles and price ranges - that is, features and user technology one might expect to see in more expensive vehicles.

As with the exterior, the Lancer's interior is characterized by clean and crisp surfaces, free of gimmicks and using high-quality materials and marked by careful attention to detail. The curved instrument panel with peaked center section is highlighted by a full-width horizontal trim section.

This central panel is molded in black geometric grain material in the Lancer DE, dark silver painted in the ES and a printed geometric pattern in the GTS. All models carry their respective front trim panel design themes into the front door panels.

The overall instrument panel shape and design contribute to a more spacious interior feeling than seen in some competitors, which tend to accentuate the center section to create a closed-in feeling. The roomy feeling is no illusion, however, as the Lancer provides 94.8 cu. ft. of passenger space (93.3 with the optional sunroof).

Precision and Function

Functional, precision details convey the high-tech, high-quality feel that the target buyers seek in many products they buy, from portable MP3 players to vehicles. Two examples of how this principal was applied to the Lancer interior are seen in the flush-mounted HVAC registers and the way the audio system is smoothly integrated into the curved instrument panel.

A number of instrument panel details contributes to a feeling of overall higher quality and refinement, including narrower panel gaps, a seamless passenger front air bag panel and a painted upper surface to reduce reflections. Precision-designed detailing on all controls lends a "high-touch," high-tech feel. The short-stroke switches also impart a feeling of quality and solidity, and audio switches are finished in piano black for an upscale appearance. Metallic-like trim highlights the shifter bezel, and also the steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls in the ES and GTS models.

Classic Styling and High Tech in the Gauge Panel

The Lancer driver faces a sporty, dual-hood gauge panel inspired by classic European sports cars. Individual, clock-like gauges feature mechanical details also evocative of high-performance sports cars. Between the large speedometer and tachometer, every Lancer model features a standard Multi Information Display with a large LCD screen using two-tone yellow and red characters.

The Multi Information Display provides a 16-segment coolant temperature readout with warning, the main odometer, trip A and trip B odometers, plus a full-function driving computer. Displays include cruising distance with remaining fuel, average vehicle speed, average fuel economy and instantaneous fuel economy. A service reminder alerts the driver to periodic maintenance.

For added convenience, the driver can select from six display languages, and display color is matched to warning level. Odometer and trip meter information is displayed even when the ignition switch is in the ACC or OFF position.

Materials and Color

Each Lancer trim grade - DE, ES and GTS - is also distinguished by its own seating and trim material. The Lancer DE uses a comfortable and refined sleek knit fabric. The ES premium seating fabric uses a combination of inserts with shiny thread accents in a structural pattern to provide a feeling of depth and refinement. The ES also offers a choice between a black interior or a two-tone beige and black, with beige the main color for seating, lower instrument panel and door panels and black used for the upper instrument panel and steering wheel.

The Lancer GTS seating is upholstered with a suede-like knit featuring an embossed geometric pattern. The upscale, sporty feel is further accentuated in the GTS with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and chrome interior door handles.

Sporty, Comfortable Seating

The Lancer's front seats feature moderate bolstering in the DE and ES models, with the GTS exclusively getting more deeply bolstered sport seats. The DE features a 4-way adjustable driver's seat, with the ES and GTS adding height adjustment. The new a manual pump-type height adjuster is easier to operate than the previous knob-type adjuster. The adjuster raises the whole seat cushion, not just the front or back, and the height adjustment range has been increased from 1.2 in. to 1.8 in.

For passenger comfort, all Lancer models use a high-back design rear seat with height-adjustable headrests. The ES and GTS models add the utility of a 60:40 split rear seatback with a fold-down armrest that integrates cup-holders.

Versatile Interior Storage

The variety and versatility of storage spaces throughout the 2008 Lancer interior reflects an understanding of how the target buyers use the cars in everyday driving. From accommodating large lattes or soft drinks to ensuring adequate space for a wide music selection, the Lancer's interior is designed to serve the owner.

The large glove box is illuminated and features dual supports and a damper to ensure smooth, quiet opening. All models feature a standard center console. The forward portion provides an illuminated open storage tray. The console in all models provides two cup-holders that can each hold a 20-oz. bottle, with enough space to the right of the cup-holders to store a few CD cases upright.

The console in the ES and GTS models adds a rear storage box with armrest. Lifting the armrest reveals a tray to hold a cell phone or other small items, and the box contains a second 12-volt power outlet with a slot in the tray and armrest providing a pass-through for a power cable. The box will hold six CD or DVD cases. Even the underside of the armrest has been put to use, with a pocket tissue packet holder. Finally, the front door panels also integrate bottle holders.

What the passengers can't see in the new-generation Lancer helps reduce what they hear. Improved rigidity of suspension installation points and the floor panel and optimal placement of anti-vibration damping material, as well as sound insulation, ensure better suppression of noise than competitors' models.

Renowned Mitsubishi Value in All Grades

All Lancer models, while offering excellent performance, safety and refinement, also still deliver the brand's renowned value. Extensive standard safety equipment in all Lancer models includes seven air bags, with advanced dual-stage front air bags, front seat-mounted side air bags, side-impact head protection curtain air bags and a segment-first driver's knee air bag.

A tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are also standard on all 2008 Lancer models. (Safety technology is described in more depth in the "Safe, Sensible Choice" release in this press kit.)

Starting with the Lancer DE, standard equipment includes 16-in. wheels with full sporty wheel covers and 205/60 R16 tires. Standard conveniences include an anti-theft engine immobilizer, power windows and mirrors and the previously described Multi-Information Monitor.

The power windows in all models feature retained power (30 seconds) after the ignition is switched off. The manual climate controls are now electronic for easier use and a higher-quality feel. With eight fan speeds, the system gives the customer finer control than other manual systems generally offer. A standard clean air filter protects the interior of the HVAC unit from foreign items, (dry leaves, etc.), removes dust and pollen, and improves air quality in the cabin.

The standard 140-watt AM/FM/CD audio system features digital signal processing and can play MP3-encoded CDs, and the Lancer DE is pre-wired for dealer-installed SIRIUS(R) Satellite Radio. The DE model's single available option package enhances value with anti-lock brakes (ABS), air conditioning, power door locks and a driver's side auto-up window function.

Lancer ES Notches Up Sporty Handling, Comfort and Value

Stepping up to the Lancer ES brings a raft of upgrades, making this model exceptionally competitive in the segment. Enhancing driving dynamics and safety, the ES gains standard ABS, and the rear suspension adds a stabilizer bar for even more responsive handling.

The ES builds on the DE model's content, adding upgraded upholstery and interior trim, a more versatile center console with storage box, standard air conditioning with cabin air filter, power door locks, keyless remote entry, cruise control, a 60:40 split rear seatback, map lights, driver's seat height adjuster, steering wheel audio controls, rear seat heater ducts and floor mats.

GTS Combines Sport with Comfort

The Lancer GTS takes the phrase "sport tuned" seriously, from its driving dynamics to its exclusive interior appointments. Inside, the front sport seats are exclusive to this model, which also features unique upgraded upholstery and interior trim, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

With the optional CVT, the GTS's steering wheel gains magnesium paddle shifters to control this advanced transmission's 6-step Sportronic(R) manual mode. Comfort and convenience take a step up, too, with an automatic climate control system, Bluetooth cell phone interface system with voice recognition, an upgrade to six speakers for the standard audio system, and dual visor vanity mirrors.

Simplified Option Packages for Maximum Value

The Lancer DE offers the previously described upgrade package. The ES offers the Sun and Sound Package, which combines a power glass sunroof with sunshade and the Rockford-Fosgate(R) 650-watt (max.) Premium Sound System, plus a 6-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability and SIRIUS Satellite Radio with a six-month pre-paid service subscription.

The GTS model also offers the Sun and Sound Package, and it becomes the technology leader of the line with the optional Navigation and Technology Package. This package includes a 30-gigabyte hard disk drive (HDD) navigation system with 7-inch touch screen and music server function, the Mitsubishi Multi-Communication System, and the FAST Key(TM) entry system. (All technology features are detailed in the "User Technology" press release in this press kit.)

Premium Warranty

Mitsubishi cars, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks are backed by comprehensive new vehicle limited warranties. Mitsubishi Eclipse, Lancer, Galant, Endeavor and Outlander vehicles come with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty; along with a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper to bumper new vehicle limited warranty. The high-performance Lancer Evolution is covered by a 5-year, 60,000 mile powertrain limited warranty, along with a 3-year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper new vehicle limited warranty. Mitsubishi pickup trucks are covered by a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper to bumper new vehicle limited warranty that also includes powertrain components.

All Mitsubishi vehicles have a 7-year /100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty, along with 5-years/unlimited miles Roadside Assistance, which includes free towing to the nearest authorized Mitsubishi retailer.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 500 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible

The 9-3 Convertible confirms Saab’s leading position in the premium convertible segment and is the product of more than 20 years’ experience in designing four-seater, four season soft tops that are as practical as they are stylish.

The Saab Convertible has a level of structural integrity, build quality and running refinement that places it at the very top of its class.

2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible

Innovative product features further develop the Saab concept that an open-top car should be ‘more than a Convertible’ by offering all-year-round transport. In addition to its functional qualities, the Convertible also offers strong driving appeal through sharing the excellent chassis dynamics of the 9-3 range.

The extensive engine line-up incorporates a 'tri-fuel' choice of gasoline, diesel or bioethanol powered engines. It includes an all-aluminum 2.8-liter V6 turbocharged engine rated at 250 hp (184 kW); three 2.0-liter, four cylinder, all-aluminum turbocharged engines rated at 150 hp (110 kW), 175 hp (129 kW) and 210 hp (147 kW); a 150 hp (110 kW) 1.9TiD common rail, direct and multiple injection turbo diesel. A BioPower flex-fuel engine, giving 175 hp (129 kW) on E85 fuel (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline), a 17% power gain, is also available.

Exterior Design

Well-balanced proportions and a purposeful stance endow the car with a strong, sporty character that, roof up or down, echoes its fun-to-drive appeal.

* Unique ‘stand alone’ design. Scandinavian design flair that ensures the lines are clean and flowing, but never cold or clinical. An open top car that looks like a unique model in its own right, free from any awkward styling compromises.

* Saab signature, wedge-shaped profile. Top down appearance no longer interrupted by intrusive mounting towers for front seat-belts.

* Clean rear deck styling. Pop-up roll bars and retractable rear head streamlined by twin fairings, hinting at Convertible’s sporty character.

* Coupé looks. The soft-top has a taut, smooth appearance through use of six cross-braces and strong tensioning.

* Unique 'Surround Trim'. U-shaped styling line extends from base of A-pillars along the top of the doors, rear side trims and tonneau cover. Color-keyed with metallic colors, it integrates the front and rear passenger areas and visually unites the only top exterior surfaces that ‘come inside’ when the top is up.

* Hydraulically-powered, triple layer roof. Automatic self-latching to the windshield header and deploys fully in just 20 seconds. Among fastest in its class.

* Integral rain gutter sewn into side of the soft-top fabric. Prevents water droplets dripping down on to the seats when a door is opened.

* Weight-saving design. Soft-top frame, swivelling braces and front header rail all made from magnesium.

* Unique tonneau cover operation. For quicker roof deployment, the tonneau has a unique two-stage cycle, rising horizontally and then moving rearwards parallel to the top of the trunk. More robust operation, better sealing.

* 'CargoSET' Automatic trunk expansion. Soft-top connected to flexible, ‘concertina’ storage well. When the roof is in position, the well retracts, releasing useful storage space in the trunk.

* Class-competitive 0.34 Cd (roof up). Soft-top resistant high speed ‘ballooning’.

Interior Design and Features

The interior shares the cockpit feel and driver-focused themes of the Sport Sedan and SportCombi. Particular emphasis was placed on styling that integrates the rear passenger area, including a 'f'ixed-head' interior ambience.

* Front and rear passenger areas integrated by consistent styling themes, contributing to 'bespoke' character.

* ‘Fixed-head‘ interior ambience. First convertible to offer soft-top with light colored headlining. Combines with near seamless fitting to give impression of fixed-head interior.

* Front seats with integrated seat-belts unique to Convertible. Deeply bolstered for comfort and support.

* Easy entry/exit for rear passengers. Single action movement of front seats through 243 mm and elimination of ‘B’ pillar-mounted seat belts.

* Rear seat comfortably shaped and upholstered. Deep squabs with back-rest kept at a comfortable angle, not compromised by packaging requirements.

* 'Hydroblox' water repellent textile for seat upholstery. Unique feature.

* ‘Profiler’ customization. A wide range of functions can be pre-set according to personal preference including: anti-theft alarm, parking assistance, rain sensitive wipers and automatic climate control.

* Saab ComSense functionality minimizes potential for driver distraction through 'dynamic workload management', suppressing messages/phone calls, includes Night Panel instrument illumination dimming to reduce visual ‘clutter’.

* ‘Light room’ or ‘dark room’ interior themes. Beige or light gray seats, door panels, rear side panels, lower front fascia, headlining and carpet.

* ‘Intelligent’ dual zone air conditioning. Automatic Climate Control (ACC) switches to offer 11 manual heat settings when soft-top is lowered.

* Infotainment systems include DVD/GPS satellite navigation with large 6.5-inch color monitor, Bluetooth™ Phone Integration system (BPIS), providing automatic connection to audio system with operation by voice control or steering wheel buttons. Auxiliary input socket standard with all infotainment systems.

* Foldable wind deflector for easy stowage among wide range of accessories.

* Choice of Linear and Vector ‘forms’, plus ‘Aero’ sporting flagship. Each with uniquely-designed seat upholstery and 16/17-inch alloy wheels. Aero adds sports bodystyling, lowered chassis and optional 18-inch alloy wheels.

Chassis

The 9-3 Convertible retains the sporty handling characteristics of the Sport Sedan. The rigid body structure provides a solid foundation for suspension systems with impressively low levels of noise, vibration and harshness.

* ‘ReAxs’ passive rear wheel steer characteristic. The kinematics of the rear suspension are tuned for a unique rear wheel steer response for optimum handling and stability.

* Four-link independent rear suspension. High lateral stiffness for stability and grip; longitudinal compliance for ride comfort.

* Front suspension by MacPherson struts with lower A-arms mounted on a hydroformed (hollow), sub-frame. High lateral bushing stiffness for good steering response and precision; high longitudinal compliance for ride comfort.

* Low mounted steering rack gives excellent feel and precision with progressive power assistance and fast responses.

* Mechanical Brake Assist (MBA). Automatically boosts braking pressure when driver presses hard on pedal, reducing stopping distance. Standard fitment.

* Advanced chassis electronic systems. Saab-tuned ‘user friendly’ ESP® (Electronic Stability Program). ESP Plus standard with 2.8V6 turbo. EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), CBC (Cornering Brake Control) and TCS (Traction Control System) all standard features.

* Minimized unsprung weight for better ride comfort. Hub carriers, brake calipers, lower control arms in the front suspension and the toe and lower links in the rear suspension made of aluminum.

Body Structure and Systems

The 9-3 Convertible was developed in tandem with Sport Sedan, ensuring all the special structural requirements for an open top car could be accommodated from the outset of design work. Structural integrity and build quality positions it at the very top of its class.

* Excellent torsional rigidity (11,500 Nm/degree), despite the absence of a fixed roof, contributes to excellent running refinement, stiff suspension mountings and a strong safety structure.

* Second ‘supplementary’ chassis. To compensate for absence of fixed roof, torsional stiffness raised by completely integrated, additional strengthening system, linking front, rear and side structures.

* High and ultra high strength steel widely used, accounting for about 60 per cent of the Convertible's body weight.

* Reinforced A-pillars and windshield header rail able to withstand loading 2.2 times greater than weight of the car.

* Low speed impact resistance. 'Self-repairing' bumpers and deformable crash boxes provide bodywork protection in impacts up to 15 kph, minimizing accident repair bills.

* Advanced electronics. Extensive use of fiber optics for advanced 'infotainment' and telematics. With a signal capacity 50 times greater than conventional wire circuitry, fiber optics provide a reliable high speed communications platform, saving weight and complexity.

Powertrain

Fine chassis dynamics are complemented by outstanding driveability and refinement from the all-turbo powertrain line-up, which includes 2.8V6 and 2.0-liter four cylinder turbo gasoline engines, a 1.9 TiD unit and a Saab BioPower variant. All notable for typically strong, mid-range torque characteristics.

* All-aluminum 2.8-liter turbo engine. The first six cylinder unit to be purpose-built for Saab's turbocharged application. Offering 250 hp (184 kW), it combines multi-cylinder refinement with outstanding turbo performance. Single twin-scroll turbocharger fed by both cylinder banks.

* All-aluminium 2.0-liter turbo engine. Saab developed and tuned for 150 (110 kW), 175 (129 kW) and 210 hp (147 kW) with high torque for swift overtaking. All internal components unique to Saab. Balancer shafts for greater running refinement.

* Sophisticated 1.9 TiD engine. 150 hp (110 kW), 16-valve, common rail, direct and multiple injection. VNT turbo technology for quick pick-up. Maintenance-free particulate filter fitted as standard.

* 1.8t BioPower engine, giving 17% more power (175 hp/129 kW ) and 10% more torque when running on E85 fuel. Saab BioPower unique in offering flex-fuel engine with enhanced performance, as well as reduced fossil CO2 emissions.

* Wide transmission choice. Uprated five and six-speed manual gearboxes, with six-speed units standard for 2.8V6, 210 hp/155 kW and 175 hp/ 129 kW turbos and 1.9TiD engine. Five-speed, adaptive automatic transmission with Saab Sentronic manual gear selection and optional steering wheel controls. Six-speed units offered with the 2.8V6 turbo and the 1.9TiD engine.

Safety

Saab products consistently show well in real-life safety surveys, and the 9-3 Convertible joins 9-3 Sport Sedan in achieving a maximum five star EuroNCAP crash safety rating test study. The 9-3 Convertible meets the same crash performance targets as the sedan.

* Crash testing based on ‘real life’ research. Test and simulation configurations developed from Saab database covering more than 6,100 real-life road collisions involving Saab cars on Swedish roads.

* Wide range of crash test configurations used in development of body structure and restraint systems for 9-3 range, including eight different types of rollover test for the Convertible.

* 'DynaCage' rollover protection includes pop-up rear roll bars, strengthened A-pillars, sills and automatic seat-belt pre-tensioning.

* Fully integrated front seat-belts mounted entirely to frame of seat. Optimized belt geometry regardless of seat position, also more comfortable to use.

* Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR). Protection against neck injury for front seat occupants in event of rear end impact. Automatic re-setting.

* Adaptive front airbags. More occupant-friendly deployment according to impact severity, seat position and seat-belt usage status.

* Two-stage side airbags. Separate chambers for thorax and head protection. Mounted in outer edge of front seat-back for optimal deployment irrespective of seat position.

Infiniti Announces Infiniti EX35 Goes on Sale

Infiniti announced that the all- new 2008 Infiniti EX35 personal luxury crossover SUV goes on sale at Infiniti retailers nationwide beginning today. The new Infiniti EX offers an exceptional combination of seductive design, elegant interior and advanced technology systems -- including an available Around View Monitor (AVM) system, Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system and "Scratch Shield" paint.

2008 Infiniti EX35

The 2008 EX is offered in four models -- Infiniti EX35 RWD (rear-wheel drive), Infiniti EX35 RWD Journey, Infiniti EX35 AWD (all-wheel drive) and Infiniti EX35 AWD Journey. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts at $31,300 for the EX RWD and $34,850 for the EX RWD Journey. The EX35 AWD with ATTESA E-TS intelligent all-wheel drive system is priced at $32,700 and $36,250 for the EX35 AWD Journey model.

"We're pleased to be making the new 2008 Infiniti EX35 available just in time for that last-minute holiday shopping," said Mark Igo, vice president and general manager, Infiniti. "With its long list of advanced technology features, EX is a perfect companion for all the other high-tech items on car enthusiasts' shopping lists. And, with its available intelligent all-wheel drive, EX is also the perfect vehicle for holiday getaways, no matter what the weather may bring."

About the 2008 Infiniti EX35

The Infiniti EX35's sculpted elegance expresses a timeless appeal, with sleek lines that portray speed, grace and finesse. Its layout combines the look and feel of a luxury coupe and an SUV's interior flexibility. Infiniti EX35 is also conceived to offer a reinvigorating and engaging interior environment, with a long list of available features including leather-appointed seating, advanced audio and navigation systems and a power-folding 2nd row seat.

Available industry-leading EX35 technology features include the Around View Monitor (AVM) system, which utilizes four small cameras to give the driver a "top-down view" of the outside of the vehicle while parking; Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system, which uses the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to help assist the driver in maintaining lane position if the vehicle inadvertently starts to drift out of the intended lane; and "Scratch Shield," a special "self-healing" clear coat designed to maintain its gloss level over time and keep the EX looking new.

Like every Infiniti model, the 2008 Infiniti EX35 also emphasizes exhilarating driving performance, combining a 297-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission with Manual Shift Mode and Drive Sport Mode (DSM), assisted by Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC), and available intelligent all-wheel drive.

Additional available technology features include RearView Monitor, Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC). For audiophiles, EX offers an available 11-speaker Bose(R) Premium Audio System with Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC, two subwoofers, 6CD in-dash changer and iPod(R) connectivity. Also offered is an available advanced voice-activated, touch-screen Infiniti Navigation System featuring available XM(R) NavTraffic(TM) with real-time traffic information (requires active XMR) subscription, sold separately), which includes a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback.

All 2008 EX models offer a long list of standard equipment, including Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and XM(R) Satellite Radio (XM(R) subscription required, sold separately), 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, aluminum interior trim, 7-inch color monitor display, 8-way power driver's seat and more.

EX35 Journey models add power slide/tilt moonroof with one-touch activation, front and rear leather-appointed seating surfaces, power-folding 2nd row seat, auto-dimming inside mirror with electronic compass, HomeLink(R) Universal Transceiver, front and rear sonar system and auto on/off headlights.

2008 EX35 equipment packages include the Premium Package; Luxe Elite Package; Navigation Package; Technology Package; and Luxe Style Package. Also offered are roof rails and maple wood trim.

Infiniti offers a full-line of luxury performance automobiles, including the G sports coupe and sedan, the M luxury performance sedan, FX premium crossover SUV, QX full-size luxury SUV, and the EX personal luxury crossover. More information about Infiniti and its total ownership experience can be found at Infiniti.com.

Ford of Europe Confirms New High Performance Ford Focus RS Is on the Way in 2009

Ford of Europe is confirming its plan to deliver an exciting all-new, high performance Focus RS model for launch in 2009. A design image released by the company today hints at the exciting direction the new model is taking.

2009 Ford Focus RS

The new 2009 Ford Focus RS will be based on the dynamic new Focus ST. It will be developed by Ford Team RS, a specialist team led by Jost Capito who, as previously announced, is being appointed to the new role as Vehicle Line Director for Ford of Europe Performance Vehicles from January 1, 2008.

"With two consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally Championship titles under our belt, the time is right to create a new Focus RS," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe's President and CEO. "With the Fiesta and Focus ST models, Jost and his team have proved already that they can deliver exciting and practical performance road cars. The success of these models, combined with Jost's experience in motorsport and Ford of Europe's positive business results, mean that we now have a credible business case for a no-compromise Focus RS roadcar for more enthusiastic drivers."

The basic concept for a new Focus RS has been under development within Ford Team RS under Capito's leadership for some months already. Now that the programme has been given the 'green light', Capito and his team will be concentrating fully on this programme.

"We have reviewed our technical options and worked closely with the Design team on how the car might look, and I'm very excited by the results," said Jost Capito, "Now with the programme going ahead, the hard work really starts as the small team working on the project takes the car from prototype to production."

Stay Tuned
Ford of Europe will not reveal any of the technical details of the new Focus RS until closer to launch in 2009. The company plans to show a concept version of the car publicly for the first time in mid-2008.

"We will use the redesigned 2008 Focus ST as the base for a no-compromise RS model that will become the ultimate road-going Focus," Capito added. "Just as the Focus RS WRC owns the rally circuit, we want the new Focus RS to own the road, so we have the major competitors in our sights as we develop the car's performance, design, handling and braking."

"We're not ready to confirm any of the technical details of the new Focus RS yet - Jost and his team have a lot to do to finalise the exact specification and styling," said Fleming. "But make no mistake, I can assure you that ultimately, the car we plan to launch will be worthy of wearing the coveted Ford RS badge."

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander

For 2008, the Mitsubishi Outlander offers a compelling blend of driven-to-thrill dynamics, bold styling, and five-or seven-passenger versatility. Outlander features the segment's first flap-fold tailgate for easy loading and several user-technology firsts for the compact SUV segment.

The Outlander is based on a new performance-engineered global platform derived from the foundation of the Mitsubishi Lancer and next-generation Lancer Evolution models.

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander ES

The Outlander LS and XLS models are powered by a new 3.0-liter 220-hp aluminum MIVEC V-6 engine teamed to a six-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission (with magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters in XLS models).

New for 2008, the Outlander ES model is now powered by an all-new, fuel-efficient 2.4-liter 168-hp aluminum DOHC MIVEC 4-cylinder engine teamed with a new Sportronic CVT transmission. A new Outlander Special Edition model combines the economy of the 2.4-liter powertrain with upscale amenities and options from the V-6 XLS. Bringing innovation to the segment, the Outlander was the first PZEV V-6 SUV offered in the U.S.

All Outlander models for the 2008 - the value-minded 2.4 ES, the well equipped 3.0 LS and the sport/luxury 3.0 XLS and 2.4 Special Edition - come standard with front-wheel drive and Active Stability and Traction Control (ASTC). All are available with an optional electronically controlled 4-wheel drive system - All-Wheel Control (AWC).

Mitsubishi's All-Wheel Control philosophy for Outlander combines sophisticated electronically controlled 4-wheel drive with ASTC and a tuned 4-wheel independent suspension, plus an aluminum roof that lowers the center of gravity for better handling response. On Outlander XLS and 2.4 Special Edition models, 18-in. aluminum-alloy wheels are standard.

The versatile second row seat includes independently reclining 60/40 split fold-and-tumble seat backs. On XLS models, the standard underfloor-stowable compact third row seat folds flat into the floor when not needed. When lowered, the flap-fold tailgate can also serve as a seat for outdoor activities, with a capacity of 440 lbs. In all Outlander models, overall cargo volume behind the front seats measures 72.6 cu. ft.

Standard safety features for all Outlander models include an advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with occupant sensors, front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and side curtain air bags (front and second row), plus energy-absorbing head protection interior pillars, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and a tire pressure monitor system (TPMS).

The standard FAST (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) Key entry system on Outlander Special Edition, LS and XLS models allows passive vehicle unlocking and engine start/stop by carrying the remote control. High-tech options include a HDD 30-gigabyte navigation system with music server; a 650-watt (max.) Rockford-Fosgate® Premium Audio system with digital signal processing (std. on SE); SIRIUS® satellite radio with six month pre-paid subscription; hands-free calling through Bluetooth® wireless technology, and an accessory DVD rear seat entertainment system with a nine-inch wide-format LCD screen.

The navigation system now features Diamond Lane Guidance, an industry-first development that can include HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane information with directions.

Key Specifications:
Wheelbase: 105.1 in.
Length: 182.7 in.
Height: 66.1 in. (67.7 in. with roof rails)
Width: 70.9 in.
Curb weight range: 3,395 lbs.
(ES 2WD) to 3,781 lbs. (XLS 4WD)

Major Standard Features (2.4 ES)

* 2.4-liter DOHC MIVEC engine with Sportronic® CVT
* Active Stability and Traction Control (ASTC)
* Air conditioning
* AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 playback capability and six speakers
* Dual-stage front air bag SRS with front passenger occupant sensors
* Front seat mounted side-impact air bags
* Curtain side air bags
* Anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
* Cruise control
* Engine immobilizer
* Keyless entry, power windows, locks and mirrors

2.4 Special Edition adds over ES:

* 18-inch alloy wheels
* 650-watt (max.) Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio system with PUNCH® control
* Chrome-accented exterior door handles and side sills
* Contents of ES Convenience Package
* Exclusive interior door panel trim with chrome door handles
* FAST Key entry system
* High-contrast instrument gauges.
* Mesh fabric seats with leather bolsters
* Sportronic® magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters

3.0 LS models add over ES:

* 3.0-liter SOHC MIVEC engine with Sportronic® six-speed automatic transmission
* 16-inch alloy wheels
* FAST Key entry system
* MP3/Auxiliary stereo input jack
* Bluetooth® pre-wire ready (additional dealer-installed equipment required)
* Color-keyed outer door handles and folding power side view mirrors
* Driver's seatback pocket
* Floor mats
* Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
* Rear privacy glass
* Roof rails
* Steering wheel remote audio switches
* Two additional 12-volt accessory outlets (one in cockpit, one in cargo area)

3.0 XLS models add over LS:

* Sportronic® magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters
* 18-inch alloy wheels
* Automatic climate control system
* Silver-painted outer door handles and roof rails
* Fog lights
* 6CD/MP3 in-dash changer
* Hands-free Bluetooth® cellular phone interface system with voice recognition
* Underfloor-stowable compact third row seat.

Option Packages:

* Convenience Package (ES only) featuring: 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, rear privacy glass, color-keyed outer door mirrors and door handles, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth® HFP pre-wire, MP3/Auxiliary stereo input jack, 12V power outlets (Cargo x1/Cockpit x1), seatback pocket (driver side),floor mats
* Luxury Package (XLS only) featuring: Xenon HID headlamps with auto-leveling; leather seating surfaces (front & 2nd row); power driver seat and heated front seats.
* Sun & Sound Package (XLS only) featuring: 650-watt (max.) Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio system with PUNCH® control; 115-volt accessory outlet, power glass sunroof with sunshade and SIRIUS Satellite Radio with six months free service subscription.
* HDD Navigation & Mitsubishi Multi-Communication System (XLS only) featuring: 30GB navigation system with 7-inch touch panel and music server function, Diamond Lane Guidance, single-disc CD/DVD/MP3 player, and auxiliary video input jack.

Navigation system is available as an accessory on other models (without video input); Rear Seat Entertainment System also available as an accessory on all models.

The next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander is based on a new global performance-engineered platform that also forms the foundation for the new Lancer and 2008 Lancer Evolution models. As such, the Outlander was engineered from wheels to roof to give the driver a confident feel behind the wheel.

The engineering that went into making the Outlander a driver's SUV reflects Mitsubishi's renowned motorsports expertise. In 2007, Mitsubishi scored its seventh consecutive win in the Paris-to-Dakar off-road endurance race in a special competition-built Montero SUV.

Each of the three trim lines offered for the 2008 Outlander - the new 4-cylinder ES, the V-6 LS and the sport/luxury XLS - is available with standard front-wheel drive or an available electronically controlled 4-wheel drive system - All-Wheel Control (AWC). Mitsubishi's All-Wheel Control philosophy for Outlander combines electronically controlled 4-wheel drive with Active Stability Control with electronic traction control (TCL) and a tuned suspension, plus an aluminum roof that helps to lower the center of gravity for better handling response.

Real World 4-Wheel Drive Performance and Benefits
Mitsubishi studied real-world usage of 4-wheel drive systems to determine what type of technology would be most effective for vehicle control, and most useful to the compact SUV customer. At the same time, the goal was to ensure that 4-wheel drive capability did not unduly impact fuel economy. Mitsubishi rejected the increasingly common solution to this challenge, which is to use an automatic "on-demand, part-time" type 4-wheel drive system as used by some competitors. Such systems rely purely on slippage at the front wheels before channeling power to the rear wheels. Mitsubishi felt customers in this segment would be best served by a system that could proactively reduce the likelihood of wheel slippage.

All-Wheel Control with Advanced 4-Wheel Drive

The next-generation Outlander gives the driver a choice among vehicle drive modes. Standard front-wheel drive is augmented by the Active Stability Control (ASC) system, which includes traction control for better grip on slippery surfaces.
With the optional 4-wheel drive system, the driver uses a drive-mode dial on the center console to select "FWD" for best fuel economy or one of the two 4WD modes - 4WD or Lock - to optimize traction performance for driving conditions or handling performance. The driver can freely change the drive mode at any time.

In 4WD or Lock modes, the system uses an electronically controlled transfer clutch to automatically and seamlessly route variable power to the rear wheels, depending on driving and road surface conditions. In either 4WD or Lock modes, the system routes more torque to the rear wheels under acceleration (more in Lock mode). At low speeds through tight corners, coupling torque is reduced, providing a smoother feel through the corner.

In Outlander, Lock mode can operate at all speeds, sending more torque to the rear wheels (but still variable) than in 4WD mode to enhance agility on dry roads and to help improve traction on slippery surfaces. In contrast, the Lock mode in some competitive vehicles' 4WD systems is only for driving at low speeds on very slippery or loose surfaces.

Drive Mode Overview of Control Benefit
2WD Distributes all torque to front wheels Best fuel economy
4WD Auto Distributes variable torque to rear wheels depending on accelerator pedal position and front-to-rear wheel speed difference Delivers the optimal amount of torque for driving conditions
4WD Lock Delivers 1.5 times more torque to the rear wheels than 4WD mode Increases off-the-line traction; provides greater high-speed stability and best performance on rough or slippery surfaces.

How the Electronic Coupling Works
Coupling torque is computed using a combination of feed-forward control, which operates in response to accelerator pedal action, and feedback control, which monitors the speed of the four wheels and computes any difference between front and rear wheel rotation speeds. Information on accelerator pedal position and vehicle speed is received via the CAN bus. The system interprets driving conditions and driver input and delivers the right amount of torque to the rear wheels. Current passes through a magneto, generating magnetic force that engages a pilot clutch. In response to this force, the ball in the cam mechanism bites in and generates thrust. The force of this thrust pushes the main clutch and torque is transferred to the rear wheels.

The aluminum transfer coupling is located near the rear differential for optimal weight distribution. At 39.2 lbs., the coupling is 16.8 lbs. lighter than the previous-generation Outlander's transfer case - a significant weight reduction in a strategic location. A new three-point differential mounting system with reduced gear offset between the propeller shaft and the coupling helps to reduce friction, noise and vibration and also contribute to better fuel economy.

Active Stability Control
The new-generation Outlander features standard Active Stability Control (ASC) on all models. The previous-generation Outlander did not offer such a system. ASC helps to prevent side slipping (spin and side drift) as a result of sudden steering wheel operation or on slippery roads. Overall vehicle stability is enhanced in all driving conditions, lending an extra measure of confidence in wet or snowy weather.

In FWD Outlander models - and under all driving modes in 4WD models - ASC helps keep the vehicle traveling in the driver's intended direction. The ASC system takes data input from a number of sensors, including steering angle, individual wheel speed and yaw, as well as from the powertrain electronic control unit (ECU).

When it detects side-slipping or wheel spin, ASC provides integrated control of brakes, engine torque (via the electronic throttle control), transmission and electronically controlled 4WD to improve vehicle stability. The high-speed CAN bus facilitates communication between the engine, transmission and 4WD system.

The traction control portion of ASC provides a "virtual" limited-slip differential effect by helping to prevent wheel spin during start up and acceleration in slippery conditions. Even if the driver has not selected 4WD Auto or 4WD Lock modes on a 4WD Outlander model, front wheel spin can be controlled under a variety of conditions. Since a mechanical limited-slip differential is not required, weight is reduced.

Whenever ASC intervenes, a warning light flashes in the liquid crystal display inside the instrument panel, signaling the driver that the system is operating and that the vehicle has reached a driving limit. An ASC OFF switch allows the driver to disengage the system. Instances where that could be useful include driving the vehicle through deep snow, or out of a snowed-in parking space. In such situations, traction control could be a hindrance. The electronically controlled 4WD system does not rely on traction control to distribute power; power distribution is controlled through the electronically controlled viscous coupling, with ASC influencing that as needed.

High-Strength Structure with Aluminum Roof
The next-generation Outlander is built around Mitsubishi's next-generation Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) unibody design. The highly rigid structure, which makes extensive use of high-strength steel, allows sport suspension tuning without compromising a smooth, compliant ride. Compared to the previous-generation Outlander, torsional rigidity is increased by 18 percent, and bending rigidity is up by 39 percent.

One of the most significant handling-oriented features in the Outlander is found above, not beneath. Borrowing a lesson learned from the Lancer Evolution, the Outlander's steel-reinforced aluminum roof removes 11 pounds compared to a conventional steel roof, helping to lower the vehicle's center of gravity. A lower center of gravity helps to reduce body roll in handling maneuvers and enhances steering response; the aluminum roof achieves these goals without affecting ride quality, as stiffer suspension tuning.

Of special note is that the aluminum roof is three times more effective at lowering a vehicle's center of gravity than lower aluminum body panels would be.

Earning the "Sport" in Sport Utility Vehicle
In their approach to Outlander dynamics, Mitsubishi engineers rejected the "stiff suspension and wide tires" approach often applied to make SUVs generate impressive cornering figures. The result is a compact sport-utility vehicle that will surprise and delight the driver with handling dynamics, stability and a level of driver engagement uncommon in the segment.

A longer wheelbase (105.1 in. vs. 103.3 in. for previous Outlander) and wider track - in conjunction with the aluminum roof - contribute to enhanced stability in the next-generation Outlander. Front track is widened by 1.7 in. and rear track by 1.3 in. Suspension travel is increased by 0.4 in. compared to the previous model, enhancing road-holding performance, even on rough surfaces. Impact shock over uneven surfaces is also reduced.

The MacPherson strut front suspension is similar in layout to the previous Outlander's, but all-new, with a sharpened focus on enhancing rigidity while reducing weight and lowering the roll center. The front stabilizer bar diameter is 0.9 in. Strut tower bars enhance lateral rigidity for precise steering response, and lower arm attachment points and steering knuckles have been strengthened. Combined, these changes, along with retuned lower arm bushings, contribute to quicker steering response, for a handling feel not generally found in SUVs.

The Outlander's all new trailing-arm type multi-link rear suspension, is designed to provide a balance of handling performance and ride comfort more like a sport sedan than an SUV. Using separate coil springs and shock absorbers helps maximize cargo space. The rack-type crossmember is lightened, yet its rigidity increased to enhance handling response.

Compared with the current Outlander, the toe control arm is located lower down and camber rigidity increased to deliver better steering stability. Locating the trailing arm bushing higher up improves suspension operation when traversing rough surfaces and enhanced ride comfort. Rear stabilizer bar diameter is 0.8 in.

Shock absorber piston diameter is increased from 0.98 in. for the previous Outlander to 1.18 in. to improve steering stability and ride comfort for the new model. Also contributing to steering stability in the new Outlander are ball joint type stabilizer bar links and a new hub unit bearing that provides higher camber and toe rigidity.

Steering Worthy of a Sport Sedan
Even drivers accustomed to car-based SUVs will experience a pleasant surprise from the 2008 Outlander's crisp, fluid steering response. Changes within the steering system itself greatly contribute to the improved steering response and feel, yet the full effect of the precision response is the combined result of the rigid body structure with aluminum roof and new suspension design and tuning.

The new steering rack has a larger diameter than the previous model (1.02 in. vs. 0.98 in.). The biggest change is in the new, more rigid mounting method. Supporting the steering gear cross member with a bushing fitted with an internal cylinder provides higher rigidity and enhances steering feel. Pump flow and gear valve characteristics have been optimized, and stability is improved through the addition of a valve to prevent oil backflow, which helps reduce kick-back from bumps.

The optimized steering column layout features joint friction-reduction parts that improve steering feel (reduce torque fluctuation). Support stiffness at the steering wheel end of the steering column is increased by 20 percent compared to the previous model, reducing steering wheel vibration. Dampers used on the intermediate shaft help reduce shimmy.

Mitsubishi found opportunities in the steering system to improve fuel efficiency. Using a sensor instead of the conventional On/Off switch as a power steering pressure detection method improves engine idling rpm control. Fine-sensing of pressure within the power steering allows finer engine speed control, reduced wasteful over-revving and improved fuel economy. Finally, as part of the effort to reduce noise from even the smallest sources, optimal tuning of the flexible hose inside the high-pressure hose reduces steering pump noise.

Powerful Four-Wheel Disc Brakes
The Outlander gets an all-new braking system, featuring a new single 10-in. brake booster, compared to the tandem 8 + 9-in. configuration in the previous model. The single booster, with a long-stroke master cylinder, improves boost power and brake feel. All Outlander models use a four-wheel disc brake system, featuring 11.5-in. ventilated rotors in front and 11.8-in. solid rotors in the rear. Rotors are 1.00 in. thick in front and 0.4 in. thick in the rear. Additionally, higher friction coefficient pads improve performance.

The front brakes utilize powerful dual-piston calipers, with single-piston calipers at the rear. The standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) incorporates Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) on all Outlander models. A change in the surface treatments for both the calipers and rotors eliminates hazardous materials.

Wheels and Tires
Outlander ES models feature standard 16-in. steel wheels (with spoke-design covers) with 215/70 R16 tires. Alloy 16-inch wheels are optional on the ES and standard on the LS. On XLS models, standard 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 225/55 R18 all-season tires further enhance handling response and accentuate the sporty stance of the vehicle.

The all-new, next-generation Mitsubishi Outlander introduced for the 2007 model year offers a level of user technology generally associated with luxury-category, sport-utility vehicles, including several firsts for the compact SUV segment. The Outlander optionally offers a hard drive navigation system, a 650-watt (max) Rockford-Fosgate® Premium Audio system, SIRIUS® satellite radio with six month pre-paid subscription and hands-free calling through Bluetooth® wireless technology. For 2008, all Outlander models can be equipped with an accessory DVD rear seat entertainment system with a nine-inch wide-format LCD screen.

The 2008 Outlander is available in four trim lines for 2008, including the new 4-cylinder ES and Special Edition models and the V-6-powered Outlander LS and sport/luxury XLS models. The FAST (Freehand Advanced Security Transmitter) Key entry system is now standard on the Special Edition and the LS models. FAST Key allows passive vehicle unlocking and engine start/stop. An MP3/auxiliary input jack is now standard for LS and XLS models, and the LS 4WD model adds heated standard exterior mirrors, as well. FAST is also standard on XLS models.

FAST-Key Entry
Outlander ES features a standard remote keyless entry system, and all models include a standard anti-theft engine immobilizer and security alarm system. Outlander Special Edition, LS and XLS models add the FAST-Key system that allows the driver to unlock the vehicle simply by having the remote in a pocket or purse and grasping the handle on either of the front doors or the tailgate.

The FAST-Key system provides both convenience and security, since the driver does not need to search for a key or remote control while carrying packages, or when in a poorly lit area, for example. The system operates when the driver (carrying the remote unit) is within 27 inches of the front doors or the tailgate. While walking into that range, the system verifies the user i.d. Bioelectrical sensors are built into the door handles, and when the person carrying the remote grasps one of the handles, the door unlocks: grasping the driver's door handled unlocks only that door; grasping the front passenger door handle will unlock all four doors and the tail gate. (The customer can set system preferences so that grasping the driver's door handle will unlock all vehicle doors.)

Instead of inserting and turning a key to start the engine, the driver simply presses the ignition knob on the steering column to release the lock, and then twists it to start the engine. Turning the knob rearward turns off the engine. The system comes with two remote units, and up to four can be registered and programmed for the system. The remote houses an emergency key that can unlock and start the vehicle if the unit's battery runs down.

Satellite Navigation System - Plus

A satellite navigation system is available as a factory option for the 2008 Outlander XLS model and as a dealer accessory for ES and LS models. The system also includes AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA music file playback, DVD video capability and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capability. Navigation maps and directions are displayed on a crisp touch-panel, seven-inch LCD screen.

The navigation system stores map data for the contiguous United States and Canada on a 30-gigabyte hard drive. Using a hard drive for map storage rather than DVDs gives the Outlander navigation system ultra-fast search and access to the map data.

New for 2008, Diamond Lane Guidance is an industry-first development for the navigation system that gives the driver to have HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane information included with directions. Using HOV lanes, where permissible and accessible, can help reduce driving times.

For many customers, a key benefit to this hard drive-based navigation system is a music server function that reserves about 6 gigabytes of its capacity for digital music file storage and playback through the audio system (approx. 104 hours of music encoded in ATRAC3 Plus format at 128kbps). The navigation system's main operating controls are hard switches, with the touch screen accessing the search and destination-entry functions, among others.

The Outlander's navigation system also provides an extensive information display, including an onboard computer. This driving computer provides displays for outside temperature, average fuel economy, current fuel economy, distance to empty and driving time. Another display option brings up a screen with outside temperature and barometer, along with an altimeter, and another displays a vehicle maintenance reminder (oil, brakes, interior air filter) and calendar.

Controls for the audio, including the SIRIUS® Satellite Radio and available 650-watt (max) Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio, can be accessed through the navigation screen. Adding another touch usually seen in some luxury vehicles, the navigation system includes an interface that allows owners to customize many of the vehicle's interior electronic system functions, such as central locking and lighting choices.

When the Outlander is also equipped with the accessory rear seat entertainment system (RSE), the navigation screen can display the video from a disc running in the rear (when the vehicle is stopped and the transmission in Park). Alternatively, the RSE can play video from a DVD running in the navigation system head unit.

Outlander, the Entertainer

The 2008 Outlander comes equipped to provide high-quality sound, with a standard total 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers and digital signal processor. The Outlander XLS models add a standard 6-disc in-dash CD changer.

The optional Sun and Sound package available for 2008 Outlander XLS models includes a power glass sunroof and the most powerful audio system in the compact SUV segment: the Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio System with PUNCH® control. Similar to the option offered for the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Lancer models, this audiophile-quality system is designed to reproduce all types of music with stunning clarity and power. The Rockford-Fosgate system is standard in the 2008 Outlander Special Edition.

The Rockford-Fosgate system is custom-tuned for the Outlander's interior acoustics. The Sun and Sound option package also includes SIRIUS® Satellite Radio with a six-month pre-paid subscription.

The Rockford-Fosgate system uses an 8-channel amplifier to produce up to 650 watts maximum output, playing through nine speakers in seven positions: 1.4-in. soft-dome tweeters mounted in the door mirror delta provide an accurate soundstage; front door-mounted 6.5-in. midbass drivers; rear door-mounted 6.5-in. coaxial two-way speakers using a bridge-mounted tweeter, and a 10-in. subwoofer in its own sealed enclosure located in the left rear of the cargo compartment. Mitsubishi and Rockford-Fosgate engineers worked together to tune the doors to function as speaker cabinets, extending response, increasing clarity and reducing coloration.

The subwoofer provides extremely high-power bass performance, but that doesn't make the Outlander's Rockford-Fosgate system simply a "boombox on wheels." The system will please the ears of any discerning music listener, because it is designed to provide crystal clear, low-distortion fidelity to make any type of music come alive in the vehicle.

Digital signal processing allows the listener to customize the Rockford-Fosgate system's performance for five types of music - "normal," "pop," "rock," "hip-hop" and "country" - and four soundfields - "normal," "stage," "live" and "hall." The system automatically compensates volume for vehicle speed as well as equalization for road and wind noise.

Rear Seat DVD Entertainment
A DVD rear-seat entertainment (RSE) system is available as an accessory for all 2008 Outlander models. The RSE features a flip-down 9-inch wide-screen LCD and includes a remote control and one set of infrared wireless headphones. When Outlander is equipped with both the RSE and Navigation system, this versatile configuration allows front and rear occupants to watch different DVD programs, or the same program; the factory - installed RSE can send its video signal to the navigation system's screen, and vice versa. However, the transmission must be in the Park position for video to play on the navigation display screen.

Steering Wheel Controls
Steering wheel-mounted controls for the cruise control system are standard for Outlander Special Edition, LS and XLS and are included with the ES model's optional Convenience Package. The controls are mounted on the right side spoke. The LS and XLS models also add standard steering wheel audio controls mounted on the left side spoke.

Echoing user technology seen on luxury vehicles, the steering wheel audio controls operate whichever factory audio system the customer chooses, including the optional Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio system, and the SIRIUS® Satellite Radio when so equipped. The basic controls include volume, station seek for the radio (including SIRIUS Satellite), category selection (SIRIUS Satellite) and track selection and fast-forward/fast-reverse for the CD player (including MP3 CDs).

When the Outlander is equipped with the optional navigation system, the steering wheel buttons also provide control for the digital music server and, if also equipped with the rear seat entertainment system, front and rear DVD video. Controls for the DVD are similar to those on home equipment, including chapter selection.

Hands-Free Calling
An available hands-free Bluetooth cellular phone interface system with voice recognition allows hands-free calling from compatible phones, which can help to reduce driver distraction. When using a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone, the driver can initiate calls from the steering wheel controls, answer incoming calls and hang up. With voice recognition, the user can speak a phone number to dial it, or speak the name of a person in the stored phone book. Voice recognition understands commands in English, American Spanish or Canadian French. The microphone is located near the map light. The audio system display (or navigation screen, if equipped) provides a status display, including Bluetooth connection, roaming, phone battery level and signal strength, plus the number being dialed or the number for the incoming call.

Premium Warranty
Mitsubishi cars and light trucks are backed by a comprehensive new-vehicle limited warranty that covers the vehicle from bumper to bumper for five years/60,000 miles. In addition, the powertrain is covered by a 10-year/100,000 mile limited warranty, while body panels have a seven-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty. The program also includes 24-hour emergency roadside assistance with free towing to the nearest authorized Mitsubishi retailer for warranty-related repairs for five years/unlimited miles.

It's official Focus RS on the way

It's finally coming. Ford has today confirmed that the second-generation Focus RS is on the way, and it's set to be the hottest Focus ever.

And, just to prove they're serious, the guys at Team RS have shown us a dark, teasing picture of the new RS. It looks mean.

Based on the new Focus ST but with bigger, blistered wheelarches, bonnet vents and a gaping front air dam with secondary side intakes, the RS is described as a 'no-compromise Focus for more enthusiastic drivers'.

Technical details are scant, but the RS seems likely to get four-wheel drive and a twin-turbo version of the ST's 2.5-litre five-pot engine. That should be good for some 300bhp and a 0-60 time in the five-second bracket - genuine competition for the Subaru Impreza STi.

Expect the RS to command a similar price tag to the Impreza, too. Despite a cult following, the original Focus RS - launched in 2002 - wasn't too profitable: Ford is reported to have lost £7,000 on every model. The new one is expected to cost around £25,000.

Ford says a concept version of the Focus RS will arrive some time next year, with the smart money on the London motor show in July. The production version will follow in 2009, giving us plenty of time to get all misty-eyed about RS-based Fords of old. Did someone say Cosworth?

2008 Volvo S60 Review

Introduction
A midsize entry-level luxury sedan, the 2008 Volvo S60 stands apart from its rivals in many ways. Whereas most of the cars in this segment are powered by normally aspirated V6 engines, the S60 offers turbocharged five-cylinders instead. Styling is also left of center. Even as it enters its eighth year of this model cycle, the S60 still sports a distinctive Scandinavian flavor. The cabin is more functional than flashy, but you'd be hard-pressed to find fault with its solid ergonomics and comfortable, orthopedically correct seats. Where the S60 falls short is in performance -- the Swedish sedan's handling dynamics are a bit dull compared to newer rivals -- and in the backseat, where the S60 has less real-world legroom than Volvo's compact S40.

As the S60 relies upon a turbocharged inline-5 for power, its acceleration can feel a little sluggish compared to competitors like the Acura TL, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G35 and Lexus ES and IS sedans. All those rivals offer the broader power deliver of a larger-displacement six-cylinder engine. And although the S60 rides smoothly, it's not as composed over bumps as its competition. Though likely satisfying to own thanks to its comfort, safety and Scandinavian personality, we suggest taking a look at newer, better-performing sedans populating this price range before closing a deal on this aging Volvo.

Powertrains and Performance
The S60 2.5T has a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder rated for 208 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard with this engine, and it routes power either to the front wheels or all four on the all-wheel-drive (2.5T AWD) model.

The S60 T5 has a slightly smaller 2.4-liter inline-5 but uses a higher-boost turbocharger, helping it produce 257 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T5 is front-wheel-drive only and comes with a five-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode.

Can you figure out the point in the new BMW X6

You are part of history. You are witnessing a world first. You are looking at the universe's only Sports Activity Coupe, the BMW X6.There could, of course, be a very good reason why no one has previously come up with a Sports Activity Coupe (or SAC, if you prefer). But before we pass judgment, let's take a quick look over the X6.

Based on the X5 platform but adding a fastback, four-door body, the X6 combines the sporting presence of a coupe with the height and presence of an SUV, says BMW.It'll certainly be quick: the X6 comes with the choice of two petrol or two diesel engines, with the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 topping the line-up. It'll be called the xDrive50i, and develop 407bhp along with a hefty 442lb ft of torque.

That'll propel the X6 to 60mph in a scary 5.4 seconds and on to an electronically limited 155mph. As you'd expect, the xDrive50i isn't the most frugal - BMW is quoting combined economy of just 22.6mph and CO2 emissions of 299g/km. Ouch.All X6s will come with a six-speed automatic gearbox with flappy paddles, channelling power to all four wheels through BMW's xDrive technology. This allows variable distribution of torque not just between the front and rear axles, but also between rear wheels.

You've got a few months to figure that one out - the BMW goes on sale in May next year with prices starting at £41,955.

Aston Martin unveils V12 Vantage RS

At the official opening of Aston Martin’s first ever dedicated design centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, DR Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600bhp performance concept car; the V12 Vantage RS.

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin’s critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company’s design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 litre V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focussed on extreme performance and dynamics.

In a speech to the assembled guests, Ulrich Bez said: “Over the last five years, we have established a reputation for presenting fully functional, feasible concept cars, and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS is no exception. We will listen with interest to feedback on this concept and, as ever, if there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low volume production run in the near future with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.

“With our dedicated production facilities, our own engine plant, our own unique vehicle architecture and now a dedicated design studio, we have the ideal framework to bring new models such as this to market and to further establish Aston Martin as the ultimate independent luxury sports car company.”

Although the 600bhp power output of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept will be the focus of attention, just as significant is the level of weight reduction achieved by Aston Martin’s engineering team. With a kerb weight of less than 1600kg, the RS concept underlines Aston Martin’s continued commitment to intelligent use of materials and weight reduction as a means of achieving improved efficiency and performance. In common with the recently launched DBS, the bonnet and trunk lid are moulded in carbon fibre and the concept also adopts motor sport-inspired carbon ceramic brake discs.

The subtly aggressive exterior appearance is driven by function. The dramatic bonnet louvres extract air from the fully ducted cooling pack and the trunk lid features a deployable spoiler that rises automatically at high speeds to increase rear down force. The front bumper features cooling ducts for the carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fibre splitter to balance down force.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman, commented: “Much of Aston Martin’s recent success has come from the ability of our designers and engineers to work hand-in-hand to optimise form and function. Our new dedicated design centre will take this process to a new level and I am delighted that the V12 Vantage RS is the first car to stand on the turntable in the studio.”

The 600bhp 6.0 litre engine featured in the V12 Vantage RS concept has benefited directly from the race development of this acclaimed power unit. It features a dry sump lubrication system, tuned length exhaust manifolds, forged pistons and steel con-rods, revised lift and duration camshafts and modified cylinder heads. Peak power is achieved at 6250rpm and peak torque of 690Nm is at 5000rpm.

With a power-to-weight ratio of over 375bhp per ton, the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company, capable of reaching 62mph (100km/h) from rest in 4.0 seconds and 100mph (160km/h) in just 8.5 seconds.

The unveiling of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept concludes a remarkable year of new product announcements for the British manufacturer. In the last 12 months the company has launched two of the most eagerly anticipated sports cars of the year – the DBS and Vantage Roadster – and announced details of the DB9 LM and V8 Vantage N400 special editions which celebrate the company’s racing successes at Le Mans and the Nϋrburgring. All of these models now join the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9 and DB9 Volante models in production at the company’s Gaydon headquarters.

Aston Martin unveils V12 Vantage RS

At the official opening of Aston Martin’s first ever dedicated design centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, DR Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600bhp performance concept car; the V12 Vantage RS.

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin’s critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company’s design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 litre V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focussed on extreme performance and dynamics.

In a speech to the assembled guests, Ulrich Bez said: “Over the last five years, we have established a reputation for presenting fully functional, feasible concept cars, and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS is no exception. We will listen with interest to feedback on this concept and, as ever, if there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low volume production run in the near future with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.

“With our dedicated production facilities, our own engine plant, our own unique vehicle architecture and now a dedicated design studio, we have the ideal framework to bring new models such as this to market and to further establish Aston Martin as the ultimate independent luxury sports car company.”

Although the 600bhp power output of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept will be the focus of attention, just as significant is the level of weight reduction achieved by Aston Martin’s engineering team. With a kerb weight of less than 1600kg, the RS concept underlines Aston Martin’s continued commitment to intelligent use of materials and weight reduction as a means of achieving improved efficiency and performance. In common with the recently launched DBS, the bonnet and trunk lid are moulded in carbon fibre and the concept also adopts motor sport-inspired carbon ceramic brake discs.

The subtly aggressive exterior appearance is driven by function. The dramatic bonnet louvres extract air from the fully ducted cooling pack and the trunk lid features a deployable spoiler that rises automatically at high speeds to increase rear down force. The front bumper features cooling ducts for the carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fibre splitter to balance down force.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman, commented: “Much of Aston Martin’s recent success has come from the ability of our designers and engineers to work hand-in-hand to optimise form and function. Our new dedicated design centre will take this process to a new level and I am delighted that the V12 Vantage RS is the first car to stand on the turntable in the studio.”

The 600bhp 6.0 litre engine featured in the V12 Vantage RS concept has benefited directly from the race development of this acclaimed power unit. It features a dry sump lubrication system, tuned length exhaust manifolds, forged pistons and steel con-rods, revised lift and duration camshafts and modified cylinder heads. Peak power is achieved at 6250rpm and peak torque of 690Nm is at 5000rpm.

With a power-to-weight ratio of over 375bhp per ton, the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company, capable of reaching 62mph (100km/h) from rest in 4.0 seconds and 100mph (160km/h) in just 8.5 seconds.

The unveiling of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept concludes a remarkable year of new product announcements for the British manufacturer. In the last 12 months the company has launched two of the most eagerly anticipated sports cars of the year – the DBS and Vantage Roadster – and announced details of the DB9 LM and V8 Vantage N400 special editions which celebrate the company’s racing successes at Le Mans and the Nϋrburgring. All of these models now join the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9 and DB9 Volante models in production at the company’s Gaydon headquarters.

Aston Martin opens new Design Studio

Aston Martin’s new design studio cements the company’s reputation as one of the world’s most technologically sophisticated sports car manufacturers. Design is one of Aston Martin’s core values, and the new Studio, located in a world class building adjacent to Aston Martin’s manufacturing and engineering centre at Gaydon in Warwickshire, integrates the process into the heart of the company. “Aston Martin is about design and it is about beauty,” says Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer, DR Ulrich Bez, “yet until now it has never had its own design studio.”

The elegant modern pavilion, designed by the Weedon Partnership in collaboration with Austrian pre-fabrication specialists Holzbau Saurer, has been built using the latest construction technology and is a showcase for environmentally sustainable design. The architecture is modern and uncompromising, making extensive use of structural wood and large expanses of glass. The modular wooden structure has been sourced from managed forests in Austria and Switzerland. The studio has taken just six months to build and only 12 months to complete from its design conception to realisation.

Environmental technologies will ultimately include a ‘green’ sedum roof, helping the building integrate into the surrounding landscape as well as providing a high level of insulation. A closed loop vertical ground water system provides heating and cooling, a process that uses only one third of the energy of that used in conventional systems. All floors have underfloor heating and cooling using a low energy ‘Gravivent’ system. The main wooden structure is insulated to a high specification using natural hemp insulation.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s RCA-trained Director of Design since 2005 oversees a team including clay modellers, computer modellers, interiors specialists and craftspeople. Reichman describes the new building as “high-tech but human,” adding that the materials give the interior warmth. “Wood shifts and moves with time and gains a patina..”

The fine interior detailing has also been personally overseen by Reichman and his team. “You’ve got the smells, colours and sensations of Aston Martin around you,” he explains, pointing out the high quality woods, art work, stainless steel, travertine marble and designer work spaces. Everything contributes to an immersive sensory environment, mirroring the experience of the cars themselves. The public foyer has been designed to be used as both a gallery and a VIP area for launches and private viewings, complete with a Bang and Olufsen projection and speaker system.

The past decade has seen Aston Martin's engineering division grow from 30 people to 300. The Design Studio will provide a similar boost to the integration of the design process into the company. “In the past, the most wonderful cars came from Italian design houses,” explains DR Bez, “bodies were even made in Italy.” To bring these skills in house, with their own dedicated facility, places Aston Martin in a position of considerable strength. “Finally, we own design,” says DR Bez, explaining that “in order to build something that is beautifully designed, the key is to have the intelligence to do these things and not just have craft skills. You have to have them both. If we don't design it properly then we cannot build it.” The design department ensures Aston Martin's celebrated craft skills have a place in an ultra-modern car. “Even though we have incredible craftsmanship skills, without design intelligence we cannot use those skills to their best advantage,” says Bez.

The 2700m² studio provides space for the design team, colour development work and a specialist trimmer. One side of the new building is faced entirely in glass, braced with glass beams, to help maximise the feeling of transparency, flooding the studio floor with natural light. Flush light fittings provide hidden ambient light, supplemented and enhanced by the customised and highly adjustable lighting rigs used to develop the clay surfaces. “A studio has to have the ability to allow you to view the cars from all angles,” Reichman says, “so the building design takes this into account.” There are also five full-size ‘plates’ on the studio floor for the creation of full-scale models, along with a viewing garden, screened from the rest of the facility by a hand laid stone wall.

“The new Design Studio is a commitment from the new shareholders of how important the design of new models is to the company’s future,” says DR Bez, “It also demonstrates the pace at which the company is capable of moving and brings one of our core competencies to Gaydon for the first time. From conception to realisation in just 12 months is a fantastic achievement by everyone involved.”

The Gaydon factory manufactures the recently unveiled flagship DBS, V8 Vantage, V8 Vantage Roadster, DB9 and DB9 Volante models. Aston Martin has become synonymous with design excellence, and the creation of the new design studio will provide a fitting environment for the development of the next generation of production cars. The company was recently voted the Coolest Brand for an unprecedented second year running.

Mazda Furai Concept and new Mazda RX-8 to make world debut at Detroit Show

Mazda Motor Corporation has confirmed that it will stage the world premieres of the new Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised version of the Mazda RX-8 sports car in Detroit on press day (Sunday 13 January, 2008), at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Following its show-stopping debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan. Additionally, Mazda will have a special display of racecars on its stand during the press days, and the full line-up of production cars for consumers to view for the public days.

All attending media are invited to Mazda’s press conference and the formal unveiling on the Mazda show stand at 13.45 hrs, Monday 14 January 2008.

Mazda Furai –‘Sound of the wind’
Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas and Mazda‑powered racing cars in action on circuits across the United States than any other brand, Mazda has created the Mazda Furai. It is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the ‘Soul of a Sports Car’ into everything it builds, but with an eye toward the future and the environment through the use of synthetic fuel (cellulosic ethanol E100) produced by British Petroleum (BP).

Furai takes Mazda’s unique Nagare (Japanese for ‘flow’) design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) sports racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track.

“Furai purposely blurs boundaries that have traditionally distinguished street cars from racing cars,” says Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda’s North American director of design. “Historically, there has been a gap between single-purpose racecars and the sportiest of street-legal production models — commonly called supercars — that emulate the real racers on the road. Furai bridges that gap like no car has ever done before.

“Mazda’s critically acclaimed Nagare design language describes the flow of water, air, people or things moving in one direction. Mazda Nagare is flow, with an insightful and spirited styling, which, in Mazda Furai, invokes a raw, unfettered desire to possess everything this car represents,” enthuses Holzhausen.

New Mazda RX-8
Sporting a freshened design, improved handling, stronger acceleration, enhanced quality and extra features, the heavily revised new version of the Mazda RX-8 continues to be a ‘Sports Car like no other’ and shows that the rotary engine is still an important part of Mazda’s future.

Since its launch in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 has been hailed as a genuine sports car, but with a totally new, four-door, four-seat format that delivers true sports car values and driving pleasure, together with unique passenger comfort.

Powered by the world’s only mass-produced rotary engine, RX-8 is the spiritual successor to the 1967 Cosmo 110S, the world’s first twin-rotor production car. With almost two‑million rotary engines sold, and the company’s legendary win at the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours – the only Japanese brand to ever win the endurance racing classic – the rotary engine is the sole preserve of Mazda.

New Opel Agila: Mini Monocab Starts from 9,990 Euros

Featuring high practicality at an affordable price, the new Agila can now be ordered from 9,990 euros and will be available at dealerships from spring 2008. The new Opel Mini monocab offers plenty of feel-good space for family and friends, as well as up to 1050 liters of cargo capacity despite the car’s compact exterior length of 3.74 meters.

The new Agila is the youngest member of the highly successful Opel monocab family.

A monocab is distinguishable by its hood line that flows without a visible break into the combined passenger and luggage compartment. Thanks to this design and clever innovative details, the fully fledged five-door, five-seat Mini monocab can set standards in space economy and variability – just like the small Meriva and compact Zafira monocab have already done. The Meriva has been the top-selling small monocab in Europe since its launch in 2003, and leads the overall monocab segment together with the Zafira.

The new Agila is not only very affordable, but also boasts low fuel consumption and emissions: the Agila 1.0 with 48 kW/65 hp requires an average of five liters of gasoline per 100 km, while the 1.3 CDTI with 55 kW/75 hp and diesel particulate filter as standard consumes just 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 km. Both variants produce just 120 g CO₂/km.

The entry-level Agila comes with a wide range of standard safety equipment. For less than 10,000 euros, customers get ABS, front and side airbags for both front passengers and ISOFIX child Seat mountings. Also on board ex works is speed-dependant power steering, height-adjustable front seats, rear window wiper with interval control and power tailgate with touchpad. Customers who order the new Agila ahead of its official market launch in early April 2008 will receive a Styling package from Opel as a bonus with their new car.

Volkswagen Golf Variant RaVe 270

This year the Essen Motor Show is experiencing a very special premiere: the debut of the Volkswagen Golf Variant RaVe 270. It is still a concept car. And yet, it becomes impressively clear just how much potential this car holds. RaVe 270 – it stands for the 270 PS developed by a four-cylinder TSI with direct gasoline injection and turbocharging.

RaVe 270 – it stands for a customized interior with exclusive leather bucket seats. RaVe 270 – it also stands for techno music from a powerful 1,400 Watt sound system of the prestige class. This system really hammers.

It is based on the brand-new RNS 510 radio-navigation system. System controls include a user-friendly touchscreen and multifunction keys. Hardware of the RNS 510 includes a 400 MHz Power-PC processor and a dedicated graphic processor. The navigation and entertainment data are stored on a 30-Gigabyte hard disk drive.

A SD card slot (including for MP3 files) is located beneath the touchscreen. But the real highlight is the fact that the RNS 510 interfaces with a powerful 1,400 Watt sound system. A total of 13 loudspeakers are supplied via powerful output amplifiers. A strong 880 Watt subwoofer and two other 250 Watt subwoofers in chrome are responsible for the distinctly "palpable" sound. Like the output amplifiers, the 880 Watt subwoofer is located so that it is visible on the cargo floor. Also integrated in the rear were two 12-inch monitors, so that the music of the best bands could not only be heard but seen too. The driver and front passenger can enjoy the sound from ergonomically exclusive sport bucket seats.

The Volkswagen Golf Variant RaVe 270 was developed and built in "Biscay Blue" color by Volkswagen Individual. The underlying idea: to transfer GTI and R32 feeling to a station wagon for the first time. And indeed to the most powerful Golf Variant of all times. With a further power-enhanced Golf GTI engine and the 4Motion all-wheel drive of the Golf R32.

The engine of the RaVe 270

At 198 kW / 270 PS this engine sets a new record at Volkswagen for four cylinder engines. The high-tech TSI is based on the engine of the Golf GTI Edition 30 whose power was already boosted from 147 kW / 200 PS to 169 kW / 230 PS. Modifications to the turbocharger, intercooling and engine electronics allowed engineers to boost power by another 40 PS. The 270 PS are available at 6,000 rpm. No less fascinating is its torque development: the maximum of 350 Newton-meter is available at a low 3,000 rpm. This peak value remains constant up to 5,000 rpm. In practice this translates into fun.

The Volkswagen RaVe 270 concept car is the first new generation Golf Variant to have 4Motion all-wheel drive. Power is transmitted to the front and rear axles by DSG dual clutch transmission. This transmission shifts gears in fractions of a second, faster than any race car driver can. Of course, any drivers who want to can also shift the DSG manually. The sport car producers of this world can only dream of this transmission. Not only is it damned fast, but it is economical without equal among the competition. The reason: while it is extremely difficult for any other automatic to avoid added fuel consumption based on their technology, the DSG helps to save on fuel. The DSG teams up with the charged TSI to form a particularly efficient alliance: despite its incredible performance values, the average fuel consumption of the Golf Variant RaVe 270 is just 9.1 liters of Super gasoline (95 ROZ) per 100 kilometers.

Even more impressive is the way in which the engine and transmission distribute engine speeds and convert them into forward propulsion via the 4Motion all-wheel drive. After just 5.8 seconds the Golf Variant RaVe 270 is already moving at 100 km/h. It races to the 200 km/h mark in just 20.8 seconds. Not until 250 km/h is reached do the electronics stop further acceleration.

Volkswagen Golf Variant RaVe 270: The Body

Volkswagen has developed a new design line for all add-on body components. This means: bumpers, radiator grille, side skirts, taillights, headlamps, even the mirrors – everything modified. The front bumper is its most distinctive feature. It was redesigned together with the radiator grille for a powerful look.

Significant: The xenon headlamps got a new look by extending the engine hood and fenders and adding new special caps. Also integrated here: daylight running lamps in LED technology.

Visually striking at the rear end are two twin-fluted tailpipes on the left and right. The upper profiles of the pipes extend into the bumper painted in car color. Between them is a diffuser that provides for additional traction at the rear axle. Its effect supplements that of the roof edge spoiler. Also modified were the taillights.

In its side profile, it is details such as the chrome roof rail, mirror caps and window trim also in chrome, and the large 19 inch "Zaragoza" type alloy wheels which – in combination with a 20 millimeter lower stance – lend the concept car a very independent character. Meanwhile, an 18 inch Brembo braking system delivers impressive braking performance; the brake calipers painted in Anthracite gleam through the wheels.

Saleen Supercharged Limited Edition American Flag

Saleen salutes the American military with the production of twenty-four limited edition AF (American Flag) supercharged S281 vehicles.

The supercharged Saleen AF S281 celebrates our American heritage with a patriotic color pallet (8 red, 8 white, 8 blue vehicles), unique graphics package, a 465 hp supercharged engine, tuned suspension and 20 inch wheels and tires starting at $49,995.

"We wanted to take time during the holiday season to honor the men and women that serve our country at home and abroad," said Marques McCammon, General Manager of Saleen Automotive. "Our armed forces represent the best of the American spirit and we want to honor that spirit in our vehicles."

The program was developed when Saleen began receiving emails from soldiers returning from Iraq stating that they had purchased a Saleen to reward themselves. In keeping with Saleen's strong American heritage, the American Flag vehicles will be dedicated to the men and women who fight for our country everyday.

The twenty-four limited edition supercharged Saleen AF S281 vehicles will begin hitting select Saleen certified dealerships nationwide the week of December 25.

In addition to the vehicle, Saleen is offering all active military personnel a holiday incentive. The program kicked off on Dec. 1 and continues through to Jan. 31, 2008. It consists of a $500 military "bonus bucks" cash rebate to be applied to any new and unused 2006 or 2007 Saleen car or truck currently in a Saleen certified dealer's inventory. It also includes a one day voucher to the Skip Barber Performance Driving School. This program is only available to active military personnel with a valid military ID and drivers license.

"We know that our gesture is no match for the sacrifice they make on our behalf, but we want to be sure that they know we appreciate and honor them," said Paul Wilbur, President CEO of Saleen.

Honda Pilot Headed to NAIAS

A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot will be unveiled at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The prototype will convey design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot and will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.

The current-generation Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium-duty off-road capabilities while earning a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class for its refined handling and ride comfort. Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver magazine's prestigious "5Best Truck" award for six straight years (2002 thru 2007).

Additional Honda vehicles to be on display at NAIAS include the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the CR-Z concept vehicle, introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Limited retail marketing of the FCX Clarity will begin in summer 2008. The CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda's original gas-electric hybrid system.

30th anniversary of the Honda Accord in the UK

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Honda Accord in the UK. Over the past four decades, more than 15,800,000 units have been sold across the globe, making it one of the most popular cars in the world.

The first Accord went on sale in the UK in 1977 after being initially launched in the US and Japan. Seven generations on, Accord has evolved into a significant corporate model equipped with the latest advanced technology, great driving dynamics, an acclaimed diesel engine and a steadfast reputation for reliability.

The next generation Accord will go on sale in the UK in summer 2008, and production versions of both the Saloon and Tourer versions will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

During 2007, Accord has been highly-commended in the What Car? Reliability survey and earned the prestigious award of ‘most reliable model’ in Fleet News’s respected industry survey – the FN50.

This success is mirrored by Accord’s rapidly improving status in the corporate sector, with 62 per cent of all Accord UK sales going to fleet users. Corporate sales of Accord are up five per cent year-on-year.

“We have a growing customer base and the popularity of Accord has helped to drive this,” said Harvey Hughes, Manager – Corporate Operations, Honda (UK). “The new Sport GT we launched in September embodies all that the Accord stands for – high spec and great value for money.”

Accord timeline

1976	First generation Accord launched in Japan and US Car of the Year (Motor Fan Magazine)
1977	Accord launched in the UK
1981	Second generation Accord launched Japanese Car of the Year, 1982. Accord became the best selling Japanese car by name in the US (a record maintained for 15 years)
1985	Third generation Accord launched, sporting the first 4-wheel double wishbone suspension in the FF Class, 3-channel digitally controlled anti-lock brakes and retractable headlights. Japanese Car of the Year, 1985 and 1986
1989	Honda launches a completely re-designed fourth generation Accord with driver airbag system
1991	Honda of the UK Manufacturing starts production of the European Accord. This continues until 2002
1993	Fifth generation Accord launched incorporating world-class safety standards, low emissions and environmental considerations, and driving enjoyment.
1997	Sixth generation Accord was launched with the first ever Irregular Driving Detection function on-board
2003	Seventh generation Accord launched Best Estate Car two years running (Auto Express New Car Honours 2004 and 2006). Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) launched in 2006. New models Sport GT and SE launched in September 2007.
2007	Eighth generation Accord Tourer Concept revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

1977 and all that

Other famous Thirty-somethings

• Concorde commenced regular service in 1977
• The Voyager programme: The United States launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft on 20 August 1977
• Rocky won the Oscar for best film 30 years ago
• Elvis Presley died in July, 1977
• The first of the Star Wars films was released
• The Atari 2600 game system was introduced in 1977
• The Clash released their debut UK album The Clash with CBS records
• Mull of Kintyre by Wings was number one in the music singles charts
• The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee

Maserati has entered into a partnership with Ferragamo

Maserati has entered into a prestigious partnership with Ferragamo, the world leader in the production of luxury accessories, to interpret the outstanding class of the stunning GranTurismo with a sleek luggage set made from exclusive high-quality materials. This unique partnership will seduce even the most passionate devotees of Italian luxury. The GranTurismo’s grille provides the inspiration for the exquisite luggage set, and the emotive slogan ‘Salvatore Ferragamo for Maserati’ is embossed on each individual part of the set.

To celebrate the arrival in the UK of the first Maserati GranTurismos and this partnership, Ferragamo’s London flagship store at 24 Old Bond Street is currently displaying the complete luggage set in their window until Monday 24th December 2007.

The luggage set is available in two leather finishes: ‘Firenze’, hand-boarded calfskin which has a clean, smooth appearance, and is available in dark brown or Maserati blue; alternatively ‘Modena’ a sportier finish in a natural, scratch-resistant calfskin leather in black or aubergine with refined contrasting stitching. The five piece set comprises a suitcase, a weekend bag, a beauty case, a garment holder and a dual function shoe case with a removable compartment divider. These five items all fit perfectly into the GranTurismo’s boot.

The luggage set is available to purchase directly at Ferragamo’s London Store at 24 Old Bond Street, or through Maserati’s nationwide dealer network, details of which can be found by visiting www.maserati.com. The ‘Modena’ finished set retails at £3,870, and the ‘Firenze’ finished set retails at £4,180. Alternatively the items are available to purchase individually directly from Ferragamo’s London Store priced: suitcase £1,555, weekend bag £889, beauty case £489, garment holder £909, and shoe case £985.

Buyers prefer their used cars with less than 60,000 miles on the clock

Potential used car buyers continue to discriminate against vehicles with higher mileages, according to EurotaxGlass’s.

The company has compared the trade prices and mileages of over 200,000 vehicles, identifying a steady increase in rates of depreciation as odometer readings rise. The analysis indicates that, for the average three-year-old car, the highest falls in value are apparent between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.

EurotaxGlass’s used as its benchmark a three-year-old car with a typical 40,000 miles. If the same make, model and age of car had covered 50,000 miles, the trade value would be 4 per cent lower. However, from 60,000 up to 100,000 miles, the financial penalty increases to 5 per cent for each multiple of 10,000 miles.

“As soon as a car passes the 60,000 mile threshold, the penalties increase because perceived desirability falls,” comments Adrian Rushmore, Managing Editor at EurotaxGlass’s. “There remains an additional stigma attached to a used car with more than 100,000 miles, and many owners avoid passing through this psychological barrier during their period of ownership for fear of instant devaluation. The fact is that the rate of depreciation actually slows after this threshold has been reached.”

Using the same example of a three-year-old car, beyond 100,000 Miles the additional fall in trade value for each 10,000 covered reduces from 5 per cent to 3 per cent, and this figure drops again, to 2 per cent, after 200,000 miles.

EurotaxGlass’s also found that cars with below-average mileage do not benefit from an improvement in trade value comparable in scale to the penalty incurred where mileage is above average. Again, taking the example of the typical three-year-old used car, for each 10,000 Miles under the expected 40,000, the trade value improves by just 2 per cent.

Historically, higher mileage diesel cars shed less of their value than petrol cars with the same mileage, but this is now no longer true says Rushmore. “The price adjustments for diesel cars in respect of mileage now generally follow the same pattern as petrol cars. Up until 18 months ago the penalties for diesel models were smaller, but then so too was the supply.”

The fluctuation in the supply of used cars throughout the year affects the prices that will be paid. “During times of high supply – usually in the wake of the two annual registration plate changes – the trade discriminates against high mileage cars,” explains Rushmore. “Conversely, in the first three months of each year there is usually less choice, and so prices creep back up.”

Lexus Announces Pricing on Certain 2008 Models and 2009 RX 350

Lexus announced Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) today for the 2008 Lexus ES 350, Lexus LS 460, and Lexus IS model luxury sedans, and the 2008 Lexus RX 400h and 2009 Lexus RX 350 luxury utility vehicles.

The Lexus ES 350 entry luxury sedan MSRP will increase 0.3 percent, or $100, to $33,820. The IS entry luxury sport sedans will increase 0.3 percent overall, or $100. The IS 250 rear-wheel drive model with a manual transmission will carry an MSRP of $30,555, while the IS 250 rear-wheel drive automatic will have an MSRP of $31,725. The IS 250 all-wheel drive and the IS 350 models will have an MSRP of $34,185 and $36,005, respectively. The MSRP for the LS 460 flagship luxury sedan will increase 0.8 percent, or $500, to $62,000 for the LS 460 and $72,000 for the LS 460 L.

The 2008 Lexus RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.2 percent overall, or $100, to $41,280 for the RX 400h front-wheel drive, and $42,680 for the all-wheel-drive model.

The 2009 Lexus RX 350 luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.3 percent, or $100. The front-wheel-drive RX 350 will have an MSRP of $37,500, while the RX 350 all-wheel drive will carry a base price of $38,900.

Mid-year price adjustments on the 2008 models are effective with vehicles arriving in the U.S. beginning December 18, 2007. RX 350 pricing changes are effective on 2009 models arriving at dealerships in early February 2008. MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.

General Motors Refuses to Pay Christmas Bonuses to 25,000 IUE-CWA Retirees

General Motors is playing Scrooge in a big way this holiday season, at least in the eyes of their 25,000 GM/Delphi IUE-CWA retirees, by refusing to provide their "Christmas Bonus." The bonus actually is a lump sum payment provided in December and is used by many IUE-CWA retirees to buy Christmas and holiday gifts for their families.

IUE-CWA has been negotiating with GM since early October for a new contract covering 2,500 workers at the Moraine, Ohio, SUV assembly plant. GM has told IUE-CWA that it will not pay the lump sum payment to retirees until an agreement has been reached.

President Jim Clark of IUE-CWA said GM's decision was shameful, especially coming in the weeks just before Christmas. "I am very disappointed in GM's decision to withhold the Christmas lump sum payment to thousands of retirees. These retired workers, who live on a fixed income, count every dollar, especially in today's economy with gasoline, oil and food prices skyrocketing. To deprive them of the ability to purchase Christmas and holiday gifts for their families is unconscionable and GM must answer for this shameful act."

"Unfortunately, our retirees won't be receiving their regular bonus in time for Christmas this year and we want to be very clear: The union negotiators are not the Grinch Who Stole Christmas," he added.

The Moraine workers currently produce the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Trailblazer SS, Saab 9-7 X, GMC Envoy, Envoy Denali and Isuzu Ascender.

As a result of the competitive improvements negotiated by IUE-CWA Local 798 in 2006, GM provided IUE-CWA with a letter of intent to allocate future product to the Moraine Assembly Plant. As of today, no product has been identified by General Motors. Despite the commitment made by GM in 2006, the company's refusal to so far indicate a new product for the production plant has resulted in speculation that GM is looking to close the plant. This is a major hurdle in current negotiations and must be addressed by GM, IUE-CWA said.

NAIAS: Land Rover LRX concept

Land Rover unveils a vision of its future at the NAIAS (Detroit Show) in January 2008, with the world debut of the LRX concept - a bold evolution of Land Rover design that indicates the brand’s progressive shift into new areas of the market, while remaining true to its core values. As the company prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary during 2008, the three-door LRX, with its more compact size, lighter weight and sustainability focussed technologies, clearly addresses the needs of a changing world.

"The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles," says Phil Popham, Land Rover's managing director. "The LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it's a very different Land Rover.

"LRX has unmistakable Land Rover design and the breadth of capability that you'd expect from our vehicles. But it carries those essentials into a segment where the
brand has never been before, and with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class. It is Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product development. At this stage, LRX is purely a concept, designed to help us develop our thinking as well as gauge customer reaction – but this feels like a hugely exciting direction to take."

Compact and premium
The LRX is described as a cross-coupé, and dramatically extends the scope of what Land Rover stands for. Though smaller than Freelander 2 / LR2, the LRX is conceived as a premium car, designed to appeal to new customers in the luxury and executive sector – those who want many of the benefits of a 4x4 and the visual presence of a larger vehicle, but in a more compact package.

The first all-new Land Rover revealed since Gerry McGovern became the company's design director, LRX is a natural extension of the Land Rover range, complementing the existing models with a car that will help to define a new segment. Its many recognisable Land Rover design cues include bold new interpretations of the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid ‘wheel-at-each-corner’ stance.

"LRX is a design born out of passion for the brand, but it is different, relevant, engaging and exciting – because Land Rover has never built ordinary cars," says Gerry McGovern. "LRX has a highly desirable identity and the design alludes strongly to its capability, while clearly underlining our forward-looking philosophy – it's a Land Rover that would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn’t flinch at getting its wheels dirty."

Its compact size is one of its greatest assets, which will appeal to anyone who wants the versatile ability of an agile 4x4 with the cachet of the Land Rover name. In addition, its lower weight and the reduced aerodynamic drag resulting from the smaller frontal area give significant gains in fuel efficiency and reduced CO₂ emissions.

The LRX concept also adopts intelligent power management systems and other technologies first shown by Land Rover in the Land_e concept in 2006. Further details of the LRX's powertrain and sustainability technologies will be released at the Detroit Show.

Extending 'breadth of capability'
The positioning of LRX could be described as moving subtly from traditional SUV to crossover, with its more car-like appearance and dynamics that are sportier and on-road biased. But while its character is underlined by excellent agility, handling and performance, the LRX also promises the widest breadth of capability in the class. To help achieve this, it has full-time four-wheel drive and Hill Descent Control, as well as a special version of Land Rover’s acclaimed Terrain Response system, to optimise traction on difficult surfaces ranging from icy roads to wet grass, gravel and snow. But to reflect LRX's more on-road bias, Terrain Response also gains a new ‘Eco’ mode for lower emission urban driving.

The design of the LRX was developed entirely in-house, driven by a passion to create a car that truly represents Land Rover’s future thinking. It has a very dynamic profile, with a distinctive taper to the floating roofline and a muscular shoulder running the length of the car, accentuated by the rising beltline. The glazing wraps right around the LRX, with no exposed pillars, creating a bold design graphic. The architectural structure of the upper body can be glimpsed through the windows and roof – echoing some of the best contemporary buildings.

Pushing the wheels out to the four corners helps give the car its purposeful stance, and its front-end design makes a powerful and instantly recognisable statement of Land Rover’s identity. There are new interpretations of Land Rover’s traditional clamshell bonnet, distinctive headlamps, jewel-like, tapering blade indicator clusters front and rear, and subtle side vents. The LRX’s wheel arches are wide but softly integrated, housing 20-inch alloy wheels.

The carefully sculpted corners dramatically reduce the car’s visual overhangs front and rear. With its perforated two-bar grille, door releases concealed in the car’s shoulders, and graphic details ‘punched out’ of the smooth body surfaces rather than overlaid on them, the LRX is beautifully proportioned and elegantly simple – but very dramatic and distinctive.

Impeccable, premium interior
The interior of the LRX concept clearly demonstrates how a compact Land Rover can still be roomy, practical and versatile – and one with great sophistication. The impeccably executed cabin features a combination of soft leathers in rich tan and dark chocolate, with polished aluminium details.

The ‘fast’ sloping architecture of the centre console reflects the LRX’s sporty dynamics, as does the distinctive binnacle over the instrument cluster. The electronic display uses ‘floating’ LCD graphics to create a three-dimensional look that can be personalised for different drivers, as well as interacting with the LRX’s touch-screen display.

The instrument graphics present data in layers depending on their level of importance, to give maximum relevant information with minimum distraction. When appropriate, displayed information transfers between the main instrument cluster and the touch screen. And further adding to the LRX’s involving personality, the different drivetrain modes are matched by changes in the cabin’s background lighting colour – green in economy, red in sports and blue in standard mode.

Clever use of space
Although the LRX is compact, clever use of space makes it impressively roomy, and many neat design touches maximise its practicality. A second touch screen area gives a fully interactive display and control for the LRX’s iPhone docking facility. On either side of the horizontally-split, power-operated tailgate, removable and power-adjustable speakers include an iPod docking station. There is also a coolbox, plus a bottle chiller that can be clipped to the lowered tailgate. This also has integral aluminium cupholders between two padded seating areas, for a new twist on the idea of a traditional Land Rover tailgate lunch.

Every interior design detail combines to maximise both actual space and the feeling of space. The clear roof is supported by a ‘spider’ frame running into the A-pillars, and the rear quarter pillars have glazed apertures for improved visibility and a lighter feel in the cabin.

The LRX’s distinctive seats ‘float’ on individual plinths and have open frameworks to reinforce the impression of light, airy interior space – while also creating useful under-seat and under-floor stowage areas. The clever, powered mechanism of the Seat backs maximises interior flexibility and helps create a large, flat storage area when needed, complete with multiple tie-down options. The generous load space and through-loading option also help accommodate bikes, skis or surfboards.

"Flexible load carrying capacity is fundamental to the concept of the LRX," says Gerry McGovern. "With this car, we've interpreted the idea of Land Rover 'breadth of capability' to be more about versatility than about ultimate off-roading. This meets the needs of the new customers that we believe would be attracted by this type of car. They will not only appreciate LRX's versatility, but will also recognise that this has been packaged with the highest levels of precision."

Sustainable product design
The structures of the seats and instrument panel are elegant enough to be left exposed - one novel approach that Land Rover's designers have taken to reduce vehicle weight. Another example is replacing the glass for side windows and roof with polycarbonate, which is around 40% lighter.

Even the choice of the premium quality trim materials reflects Land Rover's deep thinking about sustainability, with vegetable-tanned leather (chromium-free, so better for recycling), extensive use of aluminium (both lightweight and readily recyclable), and carpeting made of felt from sustainable sources. And the luxurious vanilla-coloured 'fine suede' on the door inserts and headliner is a 100% recycled material made from used plastic bottles.

"We are determined to make sustainability a key element in our future product design and the way we do business, while still creating vehicles that have a strong emotional appeal as well as fulfilling people's practical needs," says Phil Popham.

"No one technology delivers all the answers to whole life sustainability, but the LRX concept brings together some of the future ideas that interest us, into a car that we believe represents an exciting way forward for Land Rover."

Ford of Europe Sales Rise 3.2 Per Cent in November 2007

A strong performance in November has put Ford of Europe on course for record 2007 sales. With demand for its stylish new models continuing to rise, the company sold 149,600 cars and commercial vehicles in November 2007, an increase of 3.2 per cent over the same month last year. Ford's November market share was 8.7 per cent.

Highlights:
* Ford of Europe sales increase by 4,700 in November to 149,600
* Year-to-date sales rise by 5.4 per cent to 1,680,900

The Ford Focus led the way with sales rising to more than 41,000 units, strongly supported by the Ford Fiesta, and the acclaimed all-new Ford Mondeo. Showing its enduring appeal, the Fiesta sold 27,500 units, with the Ford Fusion adding a further 9,850. Ford Mondeo sales increased almost 55 per cent, to 15,675 units, as the new model continues to win praise from both press and public.

Ford's commercial vehicles also remain in demand. Sales of the Ford Transit increased by over 6.4 per cent to 20,150 vehicles, while the Transit Connect improved by 8.3 per cent to 10,300.

Britain remained Ford's top market with sales of 29,400, followed by Germany where sales rose 7.5 per cent to 22,450 and Italy where they increased by 3.6 per cent to 18,100. Sales in Russia and Turkey also continued to increase, rising by 30 per cent, to 17,800 vehicles in Russia and by 9.6 per cent to 10,000 units in Turkey.

In the first 11 months of this year, Ford sold 1,680,900 cars and commercials in its main 21 markets, more than 86,000 units ahead of the same period last year. Year-to-date market share was 8.8 per cent.

"We are on course for record sales this year because we are committed to giving customers what they want - cars and commercial vehicles that combine style, performance, value and quality," said Stephen Odell, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "We expect that successful formula to continue next year - production of the new 2008 Ford Focus started earlier this month, and the media are telling us we have yet another winner. The new Ford Focus will start arriving in showrooms early next year, and then we will further strengthen our range in 2008 with the launch of several other important new models."

Ford's sales data includes both passenger cars and commercial vehicles from its 21 major European Sales Companies, including Russia and Turkey. Market share excludes Russia.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Dodge Promotion Aims to Aid Ailing Relationships of Car Freaks

Zach Madrid of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been named the winner of the Dodge brand’s “Are You Tuned Out?” search for the nation’s most “tuned-out” car enthusiast and vehicle tuner. Nominated by his fiancée, Tricia Champagne, Madrid represents the 63 percent of men who, according to a survey conducted by Dodge and Ipsos Public Affairs1, are “tuned in” to their cars and trucks, sometimes at the expense of their personal relationships.

2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4

In her nomination essay, Champagne said Madrid is completely “tuned-out,” so much so that she has no chance of having a “civilized conversation” with him if there is any sort of car show on television. According to Champagne, Madrid has sketch books full of visions, concepts and customized versions of his favorite Dodge cars, and has memorized the exact horsepower and torque for the entire SRT lineup.

“The Dodge Caliber SRT4 is awesome. I can’t believe I’m going to have a brand new one sitting in my driveway,” said Madrid. “I never thought when Tricia nominated me that I would end up winning the ‘Are You Tuned Out?’ contest! I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding present or a better fiancée!”

In the last year, vehicle customization and tuning has exploded into a $36.7 billion industry, and Americans are spending 18 billion hours tuning and maintaining their vehicles annually2. To help these tuners (and tuners-in-training) get cool rides without having to spend all of their free time and money in the garage, the Dodge brand launched a search for the most “tuned-out” car enthusiast. Of the nearly 1,000 enthusiasts who entered the contest, Madrid was named one of four finalists to win an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 – a vehicle that comes performance-tuned straight from the factory, which means tuners can spend less time working on their car and more time with their friends and family.

“In the ‘Are You Tuned Out?’ contest, we were looking for people who are so obsessed with automotive performance and personalization they never leave the garage long enough to really connect with their significant others, family and friends,” said Ralph Gilles, Vice President – Jeep®, Truck, Advance Interior and Component Design, Chrysler LLC. “The Dodge Caliber SRT4 is a high-performance, race-inspired vehicle that comes ‘pre-tuned’ straight from the factory. We hope it will help tuners like Zach live more balanced lives, because all the tuning work is already done.”

While Madrid won an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, Champagne will be awarded a Dodge prize package, which includes Dodge gear and a $100 gift card for nominating the grand prize winner. The three runners-up will each receive a Dodge prize package, which includes Dodge gear and a subscription to Mopar magazine.

“While there’s no guarantee Zach won’t end up right back in the garage to further personalize his Caliber SRT4, we think the vehicle’s 285-horsepower and incredible acceleration will keep him and Tricia happily cruising together for a long, long time to come,” said Gilles.

Tuner Roadblocks
With so many people tuned into the tuning trend, Dodge asked consumers what they considered to be the biggest roadblock to having a tuned-out ride. Cost and lack of time were identified by 41 and 34 percent of tuners respectively, while only seven percent said being in a relationship was the biggest roadblock to tuning.

Additional survey results showed:

* Putting the Grrrr in Garage – Seventeen percent of men say the garage is their favorite place to spend time at home
* Date Night vs. Drag Night – Twenty-two percent of women and 16 percent of men would rather spend an evening without their significant other rather than have to give up their vehicle for the same night
* Tuner Vision – More than one in three women (34 percent) say they are tuned in to cars and trucks

Tune In to the Are You Tuned Out Contest Details
Between Oct. 24 and Nov. 15, consumers were invited to nominate themselves, their significant other, friends or family for a chance to win an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4. During the registration process, participants were asked to submit a 250-word essay answering the questions, “Why are you or your significant other tuned-out?” and “How will winning an all-new Dodge Caliber SRT4 help you or your significant other tune back in?”

An independent panel of judges reviewed all of the entries and the four contestants who received the highest scores were named finalists. Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 10, consumers were invited to vote for their favorite tuner or tuner-in-training online at www.DodgeRUTunedOut.com. The results of the online voting were added to the judges’ scores, and the tuner with the highest combined score was awarded an all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4.

About the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4
The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 is for the enthusiast who wants the all-around performance of a true “tuner car” right from the manufacturer. Powered by a turbocharged engine producing 285 horsepower and 265 lb.-ft. of torque, the Dodge Caliber SRT4 has 70 more horsepower than the original SRT. Priced at $22,995, which includes $560 destination, and a 0 – 60 mph acceleration in less than six seconds, the Dodge Caliber SRT4 once again delivers the SRT mission of benchmark performance at the lowest price.

New Mercedes System Warns Tired Drivers

A new type of assistance system, designed by Mercedes-Benz to warn the driver of tiredness and the dreaded phenomenon of nodding off at the wheel is now undergoing a final test phase. The system uses various sensors to analyze driving behavior and recognizes tiredness-related changes in the driver’s personal driving style. In this event the driver is prompted to take a break. Once all of the tests have been completed, the system will go into series production at Mercedes-Benz in 2009.

Mercedes-Benz Safety Systems for Tired Drivers

Official statistics cite tiredness as the reason behind around one percent of all serious traffic accidents. However, experts believe that the number of unattributed cases of this type of accident is significantly higher, as tiredness is often a factor which is impossible to ascertain or prove when reconstructing the accident. According to the latest European studies, 24 to 33 percent of all fatal traffic accidents involve overtired drivers. This means that tiredness is probably responsible for a higher proportion of serious traffic accidents than alcohol.

In addition to the lack of a good night’s sleep, one of the most frequent causes of the dangerous phenomenon of nodding off at the wheel is monotony. Two thirds of accidents caused by tiredness occur in the dark, half where there is little traffic around. Scientists believe that the risk of accident is particularly increased on long-distance journeys under unchanging conditions, as this causes the driver’s attention to tail off and the monotony also increases the risk of falling asleep.

Investigations by Mercedes engineers involving over 420 car drivers to date show that many people fail to recognise the signs of tiredness or do not spot them at an early enough stage. Tiredness does not generally make itself felt in sudden bursts – it gradually builds over time. The driver’s reactions and perceptual capacity gradually diminish to such an extent that, even in the early phases of tiredness, drivers are often unable to react appropriately.

The assistance system developed by Mercedes-Benz is designed to detect the early signs of tiredness and warn the driver. It will therefore make an important contribution to the prevention of accidents.

Individual driver profile based on various indicators

Unlike other methods of detecting tiredness, the Mercedes system evaluates a

series of indicators in order to assess the alertness of the driver and to recognize the gradual transition between being awake and being tired. During every journey Attention Assist continuously observes the driver’s typical behavior patterns and uses these to create an individual driver profile which serves as a basis for recognizing the symptoms of tiredness. Where there is a significant deviation from the saved empirical values, the system determines whether or not there are signs of encroaching tiredness. Whether and when the driver is warned also depends on the time of day, the duration of the trip and the individual’s driving style.

Steering behavior as the key indicator of tiredness

The values recorded by the tiredness recognition system not only include the speed and the longitudinal and lateral acceleration but also the angle of the steering wheel, the way that the indicators and pedals are used, certain driver control actions and various external influences such as a side wind or an uneven road surface. Observation of the steering behavior has proven particularly significant: tired drivers can be spotted by a series of typical steering wheel movements which they then immediately correct. The new Mercedes assistance system recognizes signs such as these; if the driver’s steering behaviour changes and other indicators also point towards encroaching tiredness, the system outputs a warning at an early stage. A warning signal sounds and a symbol in the instrument cluster advises the driver to take a break.

Over 500,000 kilometers covered to date in worldwide tests

The development of the unique assistance system began with a series of experiments in the driving simulator in Berlin. These were followed by daytime and night-time motorway trials. Over 420 test people have taken part in these to date and so far they have covered a total of over 500,000 kilometers. The test program for Attention Assist will be rounded off with long-term trials in various climate zones, in city traffic, on poor roads and on long-distance trips. The Mercedes development team not only includes engineers but also cyberneticists, mathematicians, computer scientists and psychologists.

Complementing the familiar driver assistance systems

When developing driver assistance systems, Mercedes-Benz has always focused on real accident data and develops technologies which are designed to improve driving safety in critical situations. The focus to date has been on those accidents with particularly serious consequences: front-end collisions, rear-end collisions, night-time collisions and accidents involving pedestrians. Attention Assist continues Mercedes-Benz’s practice-oriented commitment to preventing accidents and complements familiar driver assistance systems such as ABS, Brake Assist, Brake Assist PLUS, PRE-SAFE® brake, the infrared nightview system and ESP®, which monitor the vehicle and its surroundings. The tiredness recognition system is the first technology to observe the driver on a continual basis too and to use typical behavior patterns to detect the risk of an accident and provide a warning. Series production of the system is planned for 2009.

Honda Pilot Prototype Headed to North American International Auto Show

A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot will be unveiled at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced.

Honda Pilot Prototype sketch

The prototype will convey design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot and will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.

The current-generation Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium-duty off-road capabilities while earning a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class for its refined handling and ride comfort. Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver magazine's prestigious "5Best Truck" award for six straight years (2002 thru 2007).

Additional Honda vehicles to be on display at NAIAS include the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the Honda CR-Z concept vehicle, introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Limited retail marketing of the FCX Clarity will begin in summer 2008. The CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda's original gas-electric hybrid system.

Nissan Qashqai Hits 100,000 European Sales

Sales reach 100,000 in nine months

Nissan’s compact crossover, the Nissan Qashqai has just hit the landmark of 100,000 customer sales in Europe.

Sales began in March and the 100,000th customer sale was completed during the last week of November.

2007 Nissan QASHQAI

The UK, Russia and Italy are the Nissan Qashqai’s three largest markets, with sales at the end of November of 17,554, 15,376 and 10,746 units respectively since launch. Furthermore, demand for Qashqai in countries such as Austria, Holland, Portugal, Greece, Slovakia and Norway has dramatically exceeded expectations.

Indeed, the Nissan Qashqai has exceeded all sales forecasts since its launch in March. To meet demand for the car in Europe, production was increased by 20% in June at the factory in Sunderland, England, where it is manufactured. And starting this month, the manufacture of the Japanese version of Qashqai will be transferred from Sunderland to Nissan’s factory in Kyushu, Japan, freeing up extra production capacity for Europe. Sales of Nissan Dualis in Japan, as it is badged in that market, have also exceeded expectation, with total sales of over 18,000 sales since its introduction in May.

Initial European customer feedback shows that buyers like the Qashqai for bringing something new to the market; for its strong, distinctive design which sits between a traditional hatchback style and a more robust, elevated SUV shape.

Qashqai buyers have consistently cited the premium quality interior and overall design as key factors in changing brands to Nissan. As anticipated, buyers of Qashqai typically used to drive a compact hatchback, such as a Megane or Astra, an entry-level family hatchback, such as a Laguna or Avensis, or an economy SUV, such as a Kia Sportage or Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Qashqai was designed and developed in Europe following extensive research of local market buying patterns and a deep consumer analysis of unmet needs among car-buyers. Nissan Europe’s product planners identified an opportunity in the market to design and develop a vehicle which provided more dynamic design, without the perceived aggression of a compact SUV, yet maintained the elevated driving position which is popular, but not at the expense of driving enjoyment. The Qashqai is that model.

The Qashqai was designed at Nissan Design Europe, situated in Paddington, London, while technical development was undertaken at its technical centres in Cranfield, England, Barcelona, Spain and near Bonn, Germany.

Qashqai Facts and Figures:

* In May, the car was awarded the maximum five-star rating for adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), with the highest ever recorded score for any vehicle.
* On average, 850 Qashqais are built a day at Sunderland
* Each Qashqai receives 4608 spot-welds in construction, administered by 298 robots
* 920 different combinations of Qashqai have been manufactured
* It takes 10.5 man hours to build a Qashqai (including bumper mouldings and painting, and axle production)
* A Qashqai contains approximately 2750 components (depending on specification)
* A Qashqai is 4.34m long, so if the 100,000 Qashqais were parked in a line, it would stretch 434km.
* Distance from Nissan’s Sunderland factory to Nissan Design Europe, Paddington, London, where Qashqai was designed: 434km!

2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR Lands Starring Role on Knight Rider

When the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR launches this spring don't be surprised if there's some confusion over what the letters "KR" stand for.

While the super car has been known to racing fans as "King of the Road” since 1968, it's about to star in a remake of the hit TV series Knight Rider making mix-ups inevitable.

2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR

"It's purely a coincidence and a nice one at that,"" said Al Uzielli a senior advisor, to Ford Global Brand Entertainment the Ford office in Beverly Hills which works to place Ford branded vehicles in movies, TV and other media. "Auto enthusiasts will know what KR stands for. But most viewers will probably think it means Knight Rider; at least at first."

The popular American television series which ran from 1982 to 1986 starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a kind of modern day "knight". His partner was an advanced Pontiac Trans Am with artificial intelligence. Not only could it talk, it could morph into an attack vehicle that accelerated to 300 mph, used a Turbo Boost to jump over obstacles and even drive itself.

In the new version, Hasselhoff returns, but the lead character is now Justin Bruening who plays Knight's long-lost son Michael Tracer. Replacing the Pontiac is the KR which in real-life is about to launch a 40th anniversary limited edition with an engine output estimated at 540 horsepower.

But Knight Rider is more than just the product integration of a Ford vehicle into a plot line; it's also a media sponsorship with commercials and promotions for Ford products interjected throughout the two hour program. If the ratings are good, NBC plans to turn the show into a weekly series this fall.

Knight Rider will provide Ford with the opportunity to showcase its new SYNC voice activated information and entertainment technology into the storyline in vehicles like the Focus and Edge. The arrangement allows NBC and Ford to co-promote both the movie and the cars at special events, in theaters, in print and on the internet.

"This is a completely car-centric show and my understanding is that NBC was heavily pursued by both GM and Chrysler," Uzielli said. "We landed it because not only did we have the perfect car, we had the right logistics. Our advertising agency Teamdetroit had strong contacts on the business side and our team at Ford Global Brand Entertainment had a close relationship with the creative side including the new head of NBC Entertainment Ben Silverman."

For many Knight Rider fans the casting of the car known as KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is as important as the lead character.

In the movie version, KITT's supercomputer is capable of hacking almost any system and its body – thanks to its creator’s work and nanotechnology – is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal good cop partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car – and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

For designers, the first challenge of creating a screen version of the “King of the Road” 2008 Shelby GT500KR, was that the car isn’t even on the road yet. The solution was to go to Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) who is well-known for creating one-of-a-kind vehicles in the California market.

GAS had one week to create the new KITT, and they pulled out all the stops. Six people worked full time to create the Mustang that would be sent over to Picture Car Warehouse as the father of all the KITT derivatives and stunt cars.

Not only does KITT make its appearance as a GT500KR but Knight Rider fans get to see KITT in three modes – HERO, ATTACK and camouflage versions.

The HERO is a standard 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR and the ATTACK is a further modified high-speed version.

The GT500KR is built up from a Mustang GT with an automatic transmission to facilitate the driving scenes, stunts, and camera work necessary to produce the great action scenes in the movie. Stunt versions were also built for doing all of the aggressive driving maneuvers.

The ATTACK version was designed by Harold Belker who is also responsible for the vehicles in movies like Batman & Robin, Armageddon, Deep Blue Sea, Inspector Gadget, Battlefield Earth, Spider-Man, Minority Report, XXX, The Cat in the Hat and Superman.

Working with Belker was Ted Moser of Picture Car Warehouse and 25 automotive specialists who, created six variations of the GT500KR. The ATTACK car features a new rear bumper cover, two-tiered spoiler, side scoops and custom rocker panels... not to mention a completely modified interior to accommodate creative needs, shooting and post production computer graphics.

"Ford wanted to keep KITT as close to the Mustang Shelby GT500KR as possible," Belker said. "Some may say the ATTACK version is a little over the top, but this isn't about reinventing design language, it's about being entertaining."

By the time Knight Rider debuts in February, a Mustang will have already had extensive media exposure in the movie I Am Legend which opens December 17. Starring Will Smith, the story gives major screen time to a Ford Shelby GT500. Between the two roles, the Mustang brand is about to get three months worth of the kind of Hollywood visibility not often seen by one product – or for that matter one star.

"I don't think we've ever seen anything like this," said Cindy Stacy, senior vice president and director of national broadcast for Teamdetroit. "The important thing is that while the Mustang has a starring role in both projects, other Ford vehicles are integrated throughout the films. In fact, in Knight Rider I think just about every Ford vehicle is accounted for."

While some may see the timing of the two projects as pure luck, Frank Zazza, considered a legend in the product integration industry for placing products like Reese's Pieces in the movie ET and Junior Mints in a well known episode of Seinfeld, says it's more.

"You can only call it luck if you realize that being lucky is being prepared when the opportunity comes," he said. "The people at Ford were prepared and they knew how to act quickly. They have been excellent at finding quality projects and putting the right vehicles into the right parts."

2008 Opel Agila Mini Monocab Starts from 9,990 Euros

Featuring high practicality at an affordable price, the new Opel Agila can now be ordered from 9,990 euros and will be available at dealerships from spring 2008. The new Opel mini monocab offers plenty of feel-good space for family and friends, as well as up to 1050 liters of cargo capacity despite the car’s compact exterior length of 3.74 meters.

2008 Opel Agila: © GM Corp.

The new Opel Agila is the youngest member of the highly successful Opel monocab family. A monocab is distinguishable by its hood line that flows without a visible break into the combined passenger and luggage compartment. Thanks to this design and clever innovative details, the fully fledged five-door, five-seat mini monocab can set standards in space economy and variability – just like the small Opel Meriva and compact Opel Zafira monocab have already done. The Meriva has been the top-selling small monocab in Europe since its launch in 2003, and leads the overall monocab segment together with the Opel Zafira.

The new Opel Agila is not only very affordable, but also boasts low fuel consumption and emissions: the Agila 1.0 with 48 kW/65 hp requires an average of five liters of gasoline per 100 km, while the 1.3 CDTI with 55 kW/75 hp and diesel particulate filter as standard consumes just 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 km. Both variants produce just 120 g CO2/km.

The entry-level Agila comes with a wide range of standard safety equipment. For less than 10,000 euros, customers get ABS, front and side airbags for both front passengers and ISOFIX child seat mountings. Also on board ex works is speed-dependant power steering, height-adjustable front seats, rear window wiper with interval control and power tailgate with touchpad. Customers who order the new Agila ahead of its official market launch in early April 2008 will receive a Styling package from Opel as a bonus with their new car.

Toyota Announces Pricing For 2008 Toyota Sequoia

Sequoia Adds 105 More Horsepower With Nearly 12 Percent Better Fuel Economy and Lower Emissions

Torrance, CA -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the all-new second-generation 2008 Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicle (SUV), ranging from $34,150 to $55,600. A 5.7-liter V8 engine is now available. In addition to an improvement of 105 horsepower, fuel economy was increased by nearly 12 percent on the highway compared to the standard 4.7-liter V8. The 5.7-liter engine is certified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV-II) and provides an available towing capacity of 10,000 lbs.

2008 Toyota Sequoia SR5

Scheduled to go on sale in late December, the completely restyled 2008 Sequoia has more power to provide the necessary performance, comfort, and convenience to meet the demands of active families. It is offered in three grades – SR5, Limited and the top-of-the-line all-new Platinum.

The new DOHC 5.7-liter V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission provide acceleration and performance that will be among the leaders in its class, especially while towing. Equipped with dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), the 5.7-liter V8 generates 381 horsepower and 401 lbs.-ft. of torque, one of the highest outputs in this vehicle class.

Like all SUVs in the Toyota lineup, Sequoia comes standard with the Star Safety System, which includes Vehicle stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC on 2WD models) or Active-Traction Control (A-TRAC on 4WD models), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Sequoia's collision safety performance is enhanced by driver and front passenger seat-mounted side and three-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags.

An all-new platform now provides interior dimensions that are longer, wider and taller than the previous Sequoia. Additionally, the second-row seat is equipped with a sliding-type seat adjuster for added legroom. This feature also provides excellent ingress/egress for the third row seat. The third-row seat has an advanced seat-cushion linkage reclining mechanism that elevates rear passenger comfort to new levels.

Form and functionality is in abundance with an array of standard features across all three grades that includes auto tri-zone front and rear defroster-linked CFC free air-conditioning; AM/FM single-CD with eight speakers, an auxiliary jack port, MP3/WMA playback capability, cruise control, anti-theft and engine immobilizer systems, eight bottle/cup holders, power windows and door locks, larger foldable power mirrors, privacy glass, overhead storage with conversation mirror, 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, a manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel, Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System, integrated tow hitch, larger standard 275/65R18 tires and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

In addition to the SR5 standard features, the Limited grade adds front and rear parking sonar, fog lamps, heated leather-trimmed seats, 10-way power adjustable driver seat, four-way power adjustable passenger seat; power fold 60/40 third row seat, JBL Synthesis AM/FM/six-disc CD audio system with 10-speakers and Bluetooth®, color-keyed running boards, and power retractable and heated electrochromic exterior mirrors with turn signal.

Additional standard features exclusive to the Platinum grade includes 20-inch diamond cut finish aluminum wheels, rear load-leveling air suspension, a power front seat memory package, heated and air-conditioned ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a power rear door, a tilt and slide sunroof, headlamp cleaners, and a navigation system with a backup camera.

The vast improvements in the all-new Sequoia are matched with pricing that is very competitive within the fullsize SUV segment, making the Sequoia an excellent all-around value. The 2008 Sequoia SR5 4x2 model with a 4.7-liter V8 engine will carry a MSRP of $34,150, an increase of $990 or 3.0 percent. The SR5 4x4 model with the 4.7-liter V8 engine has a base MSRP of $37,375, an increase of $730 or 2.0 percent. Prices for the SR5 grade with the available 5.7-liter V8 will be $35,275 for the 4x2 model and $38,500 for the 4x4 model.

The base MSRP for the Limited grade which features the 5.7-lliter V8 engine as standard, will range from $45,225 for the 4x2 model to $48,450 for the 4x4 model.

The MSRP for the top-of-the-line Sequoia Platinum grade, which also features the 5.7-liter V8 engine as standard, will be $52,375 for the 4x2 model, and $55,600 for the 4x4 model.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class: New 4MATIC generation

In the C-Class Mercedes-Benz is offering a new generation of all-wheel-drive 4MATIC, which improves on previous all-wheel technology with higher efficiency, lower weight and more compact design. These advantages versus its predecessor are reflected in even better traction and more efficient fuel consumption of up to 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres. The 4MATIC models are equipped with a seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4MATIC Estate

The newly developed Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC is permanently active and therefore operates with no reaction time, assisting the driver in unfavourable weather conditions such as rain, ice or snow. This enables him to manage critical situations with confidence. The centrepiece of the all-wheel system is a transfer case with a centre differential, which is integrated into the seven-speed automatic transmission. From here the drive torque is distributed to the front and rear axles in a 45:55 split. At just 60 to 70 kilograms (depending on the model), the permanent all-wheel-drive developed by Mercedes-Benz is the lightest transmission system of its kind.

A newly developed multi-disc clutch on the centre differential transfers the engine power to all the wheels with a basic locking force of 50 newton metres between the front and rear axles, so that the new C-Class moves off even better on slippery road surfaces and has even greater driving stability than the preceding 4MATIC models.

As a standard feature Mercedes-Benz combines the permanent all-wheel-drive with the ESP® Electronic Stability Program and the 4ETS traction system, which selectively brakes wheels at the onset of wheelspin thus increasing torque at the wheels with good traction. The system uses sensor signals to measure out the automatic braking impulses, which improve traction when driving on slippery surfaces and increase stability during critical manoeuvres. In this way, 4ETS achieves the same effect as conventional differential locks with appreciably greater comfort than other all-wheel-drive cars.

Fuel consumption falls by up to 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres

High-torque six-cylinder engines are available for the 4MATIC models in

the C-Class. A diesel engine is also available for the first time. In saloons Mercedes-Benz offers this permanent all-wheel-drive system in the C 280, C 350 and C 320 CDI models; the C 320 CDI is available with 4MATIC as an estate.

With a 200 kW/272 hp six-cylinder engine the new C 350 4MATIC consumes between 10.0 and 10.3 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres (combined NEFC consumption), making it 0.3 litres more economical than its predecessor. The C 280 4MATIC saves up to 0.5 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. The new C 320 CDI 4MATIC has an output of 165 kW/224 hp and the saloon version consumes between 7.7 and 8.0 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Depending on the motorization, this means that the all-wheel-drive system only increases consumption from 0.2 to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 4MATIC saloons offer the same, comprehensive safety and comfort features as the rear-wheel-drive models. These include the AGILITY CONTROL package with selective shock absorber control, as well as seven airbags, crash-responsive head restraints, automatic climate control and alloy wheels. The 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission is also on board.

First Drive 2009 Nissan GT-R

We're 20 feet from a production-spec 2009 Nissan GT-R at Sendai Highland Circuit, a raceway north of Tokyo. After years of staring at various concepts, prototypes and Nürburgring test mules of the GT-R, it's finally time to drive the finished product.An engineer waves us over after making his final checks, then hands us the keys with a smile so big you'd think he'd been knocking back Kirins since sunrise. We suspect he already knows what we came here to find out.

Does the 2009 Nissan GT-R really deliver the performance of the Porsche 911 Turbo for half the price? Time to find out for ourselves.

Getting Acquainted With Godzilla
Unlike most supercars, the GT-R doesn't sit only 2 inches off the ground, so it's easy to slide into the driver seat. This is a Japanese-market car, so we're on the right-hand side, which makes everything feel awkward. The seat is firm and narrow, and the high center console gives the cabin a tight, cockpit-style feel.

Start buttons aren't the novelty they used to be, but the GT-R's big red igniter just below the central shift lever does make us stop and think for a second. There will be 473 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque on tap once this sucker is running. It's also about 40 degrees F outside and we're on an unfamiliar track that packs 16 turns into just 2.5 miles of asphalt.

Ignore the Numbers
Into 4th gear and the cabin remains calm right up to 120 mph. There's no valvetrain clatter like a Corvette and the engine doesn't wail in your ear like a 911.A quick left-right-left through a chicane and the GT-R starts barreling back up a hill through a long, sweeping left-hander. It's the last thing we expected, but the GT-R feels surprisingly light and maneuverable despite its curb weight of 3,836 pounds. That's 342 pounds more than a Porsche 911 Turbo and nearly 700 pounds more than a Corvette Z06.

The GT-R should feel like a big, lifeless brick, yet here we are, barely finished with our first lap and already we're tossing the car from one corner to the next with confidence. The precise steering and nearly total lack of body roll make it easy to place on the road, and there's little dive when the big six-piston front calipers are clamping down on the 15-inch drilled rotors.

For an engine that thrives at 6,000 rpm, this 3.8-liter V6 feels just fine at 1,500 rpm, too. That's good, since the transmission's automatic mode heads for fuel-sipping 6th gear as soon as possible. Of course, the slightest nudge of the throttle kicks the gearbox down to 4th. Ask for more and we're met with a slight delay before all the clutch plates and gears get lined up. Then it's wham, and we're off at full boost, wondering what the local speed limit might be.

Suzuki A-Star Concept

Suzuki has shown us the first shots of the Concept A-Star, its new baby city car with a definite Indian flavour.

Due to be unveiled at the Dehli motor show in January, the Concept A-Star is a five-door hatch previewing Suzuki's forthcoming A-segment competitor.

Designed in part by Suzuki's Indian partner Maruti, it'll go on sale in production form in both India and Europe during 2009, slotting below the Swift in the Suzuki line-up.

For Maruti's first crack at a concept car, we reckon it's a fairly handsome effort, but it's not just the design that the Indian team has got involved in. The production version of the A-Star will be built solely in Maruti's Gargaon plant, and Suzuki expects to sell just shy of a million units a year by 2009. Expect to see a few around, in other words.

Details on the A-Star are somewhat sketchy, but we know it'll be powered by a 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine which is expected to produce less than 109g/km of CO2.

Suzuki says it is considering a diesel variant, but has ruled out using its current 1.3-litre DDiS unit on environmental grounds.

© Source: topgear

Land Rover LRX Concept first official images

Today Auto Motor und Sport published the first official images of the Land Rover LRX Concept that will be shown for the first time at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit.

The LRX is a two-door crossover with a coupè-like body that previews the future small Land Rover, which will be positioned under the Freelander. The production version is expected to make its debut in spring 2009.

The car measures 435 cm in length and 155 in height, being shorter but, above all, quite a bit lower than the Freelander. The concept has aggressive air intakes, 20" rims and narrow head lights. In the side view there is a notably high belt line which creates along with the sloping roof profile a small glass surface, similar to a sports car one.

The panoramic roof shows the futuristic interior, covered in two-tone leather and highlighted with polished aluminium trim. There are only four seats as the central tunnel is extended to the rear.

The LRX is based on the Ford Focus platform and has a hybrid drive with the electric engine positioned on the rear axle.

© Source: eurocarblog

2008 Honda Pilot Concept

In a very brief release this morning, Honda confirmed its next-generation Pilot crossover will be shown as a concept at the upcoming Detroit auto show.

Press release
A prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot will be unveiled at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The prototype will convey design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot and will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.

The current-generation Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium-duty off-road capabilities while earning a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class for its refined handling and ride comfort. Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver magazine's prestigious "5Best Truck" award for six straight years (2002 thru 2007).

Additional Honda vehicles to be on display at NAIAS include the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the CR-Z concept vehicle, introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Limited retail marketing of the FCX Clarity will begin in summer 2008. The CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda's original gas-electric hybrid system.

Ford Delivers First Escape Plug-In Hybrid To Southern California Edison

First Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) delivered to Southern California Edison as part of unique partnership to advance commercialization of PHEVs

ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 3 - Ford Motor Company’s first demonstration Escape Plug-In Hybrid is ready to roll on California roads. Ford today delivered the first of 20 research PHEVs to Southern California Edison to begin road testing as part of a unique partnership between the automaker and utility.

Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid

The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, a research vehicle using high voltage, lithium-ion batteries, can deliver up to 120 miles per gallon which would mean far fewer trips to the gas station. The vehicle uses common household current (120 volts) for charging. Full charge of the battery takes six to eight hours. When driven for the first 30 miles following a full charge, the Ford Escape PHEV can achieve up to 120 mpg when driven on surface streets. The vehicle is not range limited by the amount of charge available in the high-voltage lithium-ion battery, because once the charge in the battery has been depleted, the vehicle continues to operate as a fuel efficient, standard Ford Escape Hybrid. The transition is automatic and unnoticeable to the driver.

The delivery comes just five months after Ford and Southern California Edison announced their collaboration to advance the commercialization of plug-ins by exploring the values of new technologies and new business models when the battery is connected to the home and, in time, the electrical grid.

“The electrification of vehicles has sparked significant interest in this country. The delivery of this Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid research vehicle today represents another step in our development and understanding of the technology and its place in the overall energy picture,” said Sue Cischke, senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “PHEVs are one element of our blueprint for sustainability that includes actions ranging from refinements in gasoline fueled engines and transmissions, to the development of hydrogen fuel cells.”

“We are united in a common cause,” said Lynda Ziegler, Southern California Edison’s senior vice president, Customer Service. “We bring our expertise in energy production, delivery and management, and combine it with Ford’s expertise in hybrid technology. Together, we are seeking solutions to address the needs of our shared customers and to ultimately help this nation achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “This is not about simply connecting the car to the grid. It’s about integrating vehicles and energy storage technologies into the energy system of the future”.

The two companies are exploring new business models related to the electrification of vehicles that could help lower the cost of PHEVs to make them more affordable to consumers.

“Although the energy infrastructure is in place, significant challenges remain for widespread adoption of PHEVs,” said Cischke. “Cost, durability and reliability issues all need to be addressed before these vehicles can make a significant impact on the global issues of climate change and energy security.”

Ford and SCE will jointly conduct testing of the vehicles, some of which may be evaluated in typical customer settings to model overall home and grid values. The testing will provide valuable data related to the durability, reliability and safety of new battery technology. The cost of advanced lithium ion batteries means the technology is currently not economically feasible for widespread vehicle application.

GM Canada Receives Top Honours at the AJAC “Best New” Vehicle Awards

GM Canada was today honoured by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which named 4 GM entries as the best new vehicle in their respective categories.

The recognition results from recent back-to-back driving evaluations of over 60 new vehicles at the recent AJAC Test Fest evaluation - the foundation of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program.

2008 Saturn Astra XR

Saturn Astra: Best New Small Car
Saturn Vue: Best New CUV $35,000-$60,000
Buick Enclave: Best New CUV over $60,000
Chevrolet Silverado: Best New Pickup Truck

Over 70 of Canada’s top automotive journalists judged this year’s competition which aims to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on new vehicles.

“We’re honoured by these awards from Canada’s top automotive journalists, which we think will help consumers appreciate the strides GM has made in terms of product design, technology, fuel efficiency and quality,” said Marc Comeau vice president of sales, service and marketing for GM of Canada. “With surprising levels of content and benefits like OnStar and GM’s leading coverage, customers get much more for their money with a GM vehicle today.”

2008 Buick Enclave launch with Tiger Woods

The stylish and fuel efficient Saturn Astra impressed many with its excellent driving character and surprising level of content – all for less than $18,000.

The Saturn Vue compact crossover utility topped the competition’s largest category, edging out 10 other entries with its combination of style, driving character, safety, efficiency and value.

The Enclave proved that Buick offers quality and refinement at the very top of the class, but at a price Canadians can truly afford.

2008 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Extended Cab

The Chevrolet Silverado extends GM’s decades-long legacy of sales leadership in full-size pickups, with a segment-best combination of fuel efficiency and capability that has seen sales continue to climb since its Canadian launch.

AJAC CATEGORY ENTRIES:

SMALL CAR

Saturn Astra, Ford Focus SE , Mitsubishi Lancer GTS, Subaru Impreza Sedan, Suzuki SX4 Sedan

SUV / CUV $35,000 - $60,000

Saturn Vue, Hyundai Veracruz, Infiniti EX, Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel, LandRover LR2, GMC Acadia SLT, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Tribeca, Toyota Highlander, Volvo XC70

SUV / CUV over $60,000

Buick Enclave, BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class , Mercedes G-Class

PICK-UP

Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Dakota, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra

Fresh Drive for Opel Monocab Range

Opel’s model range at the Bologna Motor Show (December 7 – 16, 2007) features no less than 17 seats and up to 4280 liters of load volume capacity. This is no illusion, but rather the combined characteristics of Opel’s three quick-change artists.

The automaker from Rüsselsheim highlights its monocab designs – body models where the hood and trunk are not visibly separate from the cabin – which enable plenty of interior flexibility. Opel consistently sends a clear signal with these models’ market success and innovative ideas.

Opel monocab range

The top attraction in Bologna is the world premiere of the new Zafira. The benchmark for fully variable seven-seaters in the compact monocab class, the new Zafira boasts fresh design accents and three additional engines with improved fuel economy. From February 2008, the European record of two million units sold since 1999 will be within reach.

Opel’s new monocab highlights continue with the Italian premiere of the brand-new Agila. The flexible five-seater with up to 1050 liters of load space and exterior length of just 3.74 meters establishes Opel in the mini monocab segment.

Completing the monocab trio is the spacious Meriva, which has been the top seller in the small monocab class in Europe since its market launch in 2003. A total of around 280,000 Meriva (120,000) and Europe’s top-selling seven-seater Zafira (160,000) models were sold from January through November 2007. The launch of the new Agila in spring 2008 will put Opel in an even better position to defend its top market position in the coming years.

Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer GM Europe, praised the monocab trio as ideal brand ambassadors: “Opel stands for maximum variability in affordable cars, and we realize this democratization of intelligent vehicle concepts right across our model classes. The new Agila continues the outstanding flexibility of the Zafira and Meriva models, whose extraordinary qualities have helped shape Opel’s brand profile.”

Opel’s principle of optimal use of space

Opel’s strategy for success with its monocab range is to offer as much space and practicality as possible within the most compact dimensions conceivable, and to adapt this concept to various model size classes. The patented Flex7 seating system in the 4.47-meter long Zafira is considered the benchmark among technological solutions for maximum interior variability. Europe’s top-selling seven-seater can easily be transformed into a two-seater with a cargo capacity of up to 1820 liters without cumbersome removal of the seats. With the FlexSpace concept, the Meriva brings an iteration of this successful innovation to the small monocab segment. The 4.05-meter long quick-change artist can be configured in every conceivable way – as a five, four, three, two or one-seater with 2.40-meter load-floor length and cargo capacity of 1410 liters. The new 3.74-meter long Agila echoes this flexibility and brilliant simplicity. Folding the 60:40-split rear bench seat back down creates a flat load floor and boosts the luggage compartment volume from 225 to 1050 liters - a capacity unrivalled by the Agila’s competitors.

Besides the efficient use of space, other monocab success factors include the high seating position for good visibility and the ease of entry and exit. Currently 13 percent of new passenger car registrations in Europe are for vehicles in this category. Frank Leopold, Manager Innovation, Advanced Package & Concept Cars, Adam Opel GmbH, sees a bright future for monocabs: “In the past, cars were just made longer and wider to create more space. But Flex7, which is incorporated in the monocab design, presented an alternative. And as just making cars bigger is also not very environmentally friendly, the trend toward efficient innovations à la Opel will continue.”

Intelligent space concept reduces per-head consumption

The intelligent design concept of providing maximum variability and plenty of space despite compact dimensions and less weight are key to the Opel monocabs’ environmental compatibility and economy. The new mini monocab is the latest proof of this, as the Agila 1.0 and 1.3 CDTI require just 5.0 and 4.5 liters of fuel respectively per 100 kilometers. The corresponding CO2 value of 120 g/km means when fully occupied, the Agila emits an extremely environmentally friendly 24 g CO2/km and seat. The Zafira 1.6 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) has an even more impressive emission value: its five-kilogram consumption of H-gas per 100 km results in just 138 g CO2/km. With six passengers plus driver, the Zafira 1.6 CNG – available as an Opel ecoFLEX model from spring 2008 – produces just 20 g CO2/km and seat.

The addition of the new 1.6-liter gasoline engine (85 kW/115 hp) and two 1.7 CDTI common-rail turbo-diesels (81 kW/110 hp and 92 kW/125 hp) expands the Zafira engine range with more economical units that provide greater output but consume less fuel. Aside from the CNG unit, there is a total of five gasoline and four diesel engines with displacements from 1.6 to 2.2 liters and an output range of 85 to 177 kW (115 to 240 hp). The Meriva also boasts a broad engine range, with four gasoline and three common-rail turbo-diesel ECOTEC units. Their displacements range from 1.3 to 1.8 liters, with outputs from 55 to 132 kW (75 to 180 hp). The models that attract the greatest attention, however, are the turbo-charged top-of-the line Zafira and Meriva OPCs. Buyers enjoy maximum flexibility combined with maximum performance, as the Zafira and Meriva OPC models come with Flex7 or FlexSpace coupled with a top speed of 231 or 222 km/h respectively.

Unique technology features

The Zafira is not just monocab pioneer in interior flexibility, but also in technology. The IDSPlus (Interactive Driving System) with electronic Continuous Dampening Control (CDC) is unique in this segment, and the Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) sets standards, providing a significant boost in safety for car-trailer drivers. While the bi-xenon AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting) headlamps with dynamic curve light ensure considerably improved road illumination, the panorama roof system offers two benefits for Zafira passengers: it provides a pleasant feeling of spaciousness on board, and helps keep the interior tidy thanks to the roof console running the entire length of the cabin.

“Our monocab range, with its high levels of flexibility, state-of-the-art technology at affordable prices and innovative ideas, is rounded off perfectly by the new Agila. This new model will further strengthen our leading position in this segment,” says Alain Visser.

Mercedes-Benz Sales Still On Target For Record-breaking 2007

At 102,700 units, deliveries of Mercedes-Benz vehicles at highest level ever for the month of November

Stuttgart -- Dec 06, 2007 -- Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz has set a new sales record for the period between January and November, with 1,079,400 units delivered (Jan.-Nov. 2006: 1,042,500 units). Sales rose by four percent compared to the same period of the previous year. By selling 102,700 passenger vehicles worldwide in November, Mercedes-Benz once again topped the high level set in November 2006 with 101,900 units sold.

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division as a whole also established a new all-time high by selling a total of 1,169,900 units (Jan.-Nov. 2006: 1,147,600 units). In November alone, the division delivered 113,000 Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart passenger vehicles (Nov. 2006: 110,800 units).

The new generation of the E-Class continues to be in great demand: since the beginning of 2007, Mercedes-Benz has sold more than 150,000 units of this premium sedan worldwide.

The new C- Class is also continuing its successful course. In November, Mercedes-Benz sold 27,600 units - more than double the 13.700 units delivered in November 2006. Thus the sedan remains the worldwide market leader in its segment. On December 1, 2007, the new C-Class station wagon celebrated its market launch in dealerships throughout numerous European markets. In the coming months, it will gradually be launched in other countries as well.

Customers are also very enthusiastic about the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. Ever since its market launch in June 2005, more than 300,000 customers have bought the compact Sports Tourer.

The new smart fortwo has also very successfully established itself on the market. The number of vehicles delivered to customers in November rose by 61 percent to the record-setting total of 10,200 units (November 2006: 6,300 vehicles).

In the Asia/Pacific region, sales of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands increased by 28 percent in November to the record level of 13,100 units.

Mercedes-Benz Cars also achieved a new sales record in the U.S., where deliveries of passenger vehicles increased by three percent to 22,800 units (November 2006: 22,100).

Because of the weak domestic market and advanced purchases at the end of 2006 due to the impending sales tax increase, Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 31,700 vehicles in Germany in November (36,800). By contrast, sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars vehicles in the rest of western Europe rose by six percent in November to 35,800 units (November 2006: 33,900)

Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Breaks Into The Movies

Exactly one year after an all-new version of the Ford Mondeo was introduced to James Bond fans in the movie Casino Royale, another Ford vehicle is about to get some major screen time in a holiday blockbuster.

Beginning Dec. 14, look for a 2007 Shelby Mustang GT500 — in red with signature white stripes — to chew up the scenery and the streets of New York City in I Am Legend, starring Will Smith.

2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

"There is no doubt that the Shelby Mustang GT500 is the costar of the first part of this story," said Brian Daly of Ford Global Brand Entertainment (FGBE), which places Ford vehicles in movies, TV and other media. "Smith plays the sole survivor of an apocalypse who races around the deserted, gray, empty streets in this fantastic bright red Mustang. The sequences are incredible."

And Daly isn't the only one who thinks so. The movie is already generating buzz on a Los Angeles Times auto blog, where automotive reporter Josh Hancock says, "The shots of the Mustang blasting around totally traffic-free New York will be the envy of every urban driver. I lost myself in that dream just with the sound of that car growling through the city streets."

Daly began talking with Warner Bros. about I Am Legend in the spring of 2006. Thanks to a long working relationship with several studio executives he was able to get a "first look" at the script.

"The producers knew they wanted an American-made vehicle and the Shelby Mustang was perfect casting," he said. "But I also knew Chrysler and GM were making pitches. I kept imagining the folks at Camaro piecing together all kinds of prototypes to get those scenes."

I Am Legend isn't the first movie version of Richard Matheson's classic 1954 science fiction novel to feature a red Ford vehicle. A 1971 adaptation called The Omega Man put Charlton Heston behind the wheel of a bright red 1970 Ford LTD.

But this time around, it's not just a Ford convertible that gets face time. Smith also shares scenes with a Ford Expedition and a Ford Escape Hybrid.

"Getting Ford brand vehicles in movies like I Am Legend works in two ways," said Bob Witter, manager, FGBE. "First, producers know that as the audience recognizes a vehicle they see in real life or have been thinking about, the story becomes more relatable. And second, when our products are on-screen they can engage the viewer in a totally different fashion and help enhance our commercial and marketing investments."

Ford vehicles had a busy year in the movies in 2007, and many of these films are now in the process of being released on DVD. They include The Kingdom, which featured a Range Rover and starred Jamie Foxx; Dan in Real Life, with a Volvo and Steve Carell; Rush Hour 3, with a Jaguar XK and Jackie Chan; and Nancy Drew, which included a Ford Escape and Land Rover LR3 and starred Emma Roberts.

And 2008 is shaping up as another strong year on-screen for Ford. For example, slated for release early next year is Nights in Rodanthe, which pairs Richard Gere with a 2008 Jaguar XK that required some very special attention.

"They wanted the car to match his hair," said Witter. "We delivered a gray Jaguar, but it wasn't the right shade."

To give it just the perfect hue, Witter had the Jaguar XK coated in plastic and repainted. Peel coating is an old ploy in Hollywood, where special colors for vehicles are not unusual requests. Once the project is over, the plastic is removed and the vehicle is back to its original condition.

"It's an amazing trick. Once the plastic is peeled off, you can never tell the car was touched," said Witter. "Eventually those cars are sold at auction. Someone could be out there driving Richard Gere's costar right now and never even know it."

Premiere in Bologna: Family Portrait of Volkswagen's New Small Family

Round the world in 14 weeks: before their group appearance at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show, Volkswagen sent the New Small Family on a whistle-stop tour around the world. Today it’s showdown in Italy as the three Up! concept vehicles are revealed side by side for the first time as ambassadors of a new range and as a family.

Volkswagen concept cars: New Small Family

Up! – Two-door city specialist vehicle offering more space and fun for four
Space Up! – Four-door microvan with maximum variability
Space Up! Blue – Zero emissions thanks to electric engine and fuel cells

Volkswagen concept cars: New Small Family

“For both my team and for me, it was a dream to design these concept vehicles" confirmed Walter de Silva, Chief Designer of Volkswagen Group, at the start of the press conference, “because these cars embody the emergence of a new era. Anyone looking at the New Small Family will immediately see how friendly and neat these Volkswagens are. Cars of this sort are fun. No explanation is needed - they speak for themselves.”

Volkswagen concept cars: New Small Family

Before their joint debut in Bologna, Volkswagen sent the New Small Family on a whistle-stop tour around the world, starting at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt on 10 September with the two-door Up!. Just six weeks later, the larger Space Up! microvan made its debut in Tokyo – they impressively demonstrate how every millimetre of space can be exploited using intelligent packaging while at the same time creating an emotional design. Twenty days later and 9,000 air kilometres further eastwards, Los Angeles was presented with the third variant of the New Small Family – the zero-emission Space Up! Blue van. The response was extremely positive all around the globe. That was perhaps also “because every Up! also demonstrates commitment to protecting our environment” according to Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member with responsibility for Technical Development at Volkswagen. “After all, extremely clean petrol and diesel engines and electric motors will be working in the backs of these cars.”

GM Europe Sets All-Time Sales Record in 2007

Sales of 2,004,172 units from January to November beat last year's total with a month to spare.

Highlights:
- GM Europe YTD share up 0.3 point, at 9.5 percent
- GM Europe YTD sales 157,282 vehicles ahead of last year
- YTD: Opel/Vauxhall grows 4 percent, Chevrolet up 32 percent

General Motors (GM) Europe set a new all-time record, with sales of 2,004,172 vehicles from January to November 2007, beating last year's total with a month to spare. The resulting market share of 9.5 percent is 0.3 point above the same period last year and the highest since 1999.

Chevrolet was the main driver of the sales results, with 32.4 percent growth in the January-November period. The brand sold 411,582 units, with a record market share of 1.9 percent. Opel/Vauxhall also delivered good results, with 4.1 percent growth and sales of 1,506,657 units in the period.

"The all-time sales record clearly reflects the success of GM Europe's multi-brand strategy. This is a result of building strong brands, offering attractive cars and a special focus on building our sales in Central and Eastern Europe. While Chevrolet is the main driver of the unit sales growth, our focus on the quality of sales for Opel and Vauxhall is also paying dividends with excellent progress in key retail segments", said Jonathan Browning, GM Europe Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006, motorists bought nearly 9.1 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. In Europe, GM sells its Opel, Vauxhall, Saab, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Corvette and HUMMER ranges in over 30 markets. It operates 10 production and assembly facilities in seven countries and employs around 60,000 people. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gmeurope.com.

Source: General Motors (GM Europe)

KBB.com Names 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Best Redesigned Vehicle

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Redesign Beats Out 2008 Honda Accord

Kelley Blue Book®, the leading provider of new and used vehicle information, announces the Chevrolet Malibu as the winner of the “2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle” award. According to the kbb.com editorial team, the newly redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is being honored for taking the important mid-size car category to a new level of overall refinement. Specifically, its stylish sheetmetal, attractive interior, well-sorted ride-and-handling characteristics and quiet – all in a very affordable vehicle – combined to produce a value equation that set it apart from the pack.

More than 30 vehicles were redesigned for the 2008 model year. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com editorial team reviewed the complete list to identify vehicles that demonstrated the greatest improvement relative to their predecessors and competitors. Factoring into the final decision were judgments on exterior and interior styling, technology, comfort and convenience features, performance/capability, driving dynamics, safety, fuel economy, overall refinement and value. A major factor contributing to the Chevrolet Malibu’s 2008 win is the vehicle's market significance.

“The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu solidified its case for kbb.com’s ‘2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle’ with a top-to-bottom, inside-and-out remake that's nothing less than game-changing,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “The new Malibu has earned its place at the top of one of the toughest and most competitive categories in the industry. It can take on any competitor head-to-head.”

Rounding out the top 10 finalists for kbb.com’s “2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle” were (in alphabetical order) the Audi TT, Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Infiniti G37, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mitsubishi Lancer, Porsche Cayenne, Saturn Vue and Toyota Highlander.

“As we've come to expect in recent years, each vehicle on this year's list of finalists represents a huge step forward versus its predecessor,” said Nerad. “The presence of the CTS and Vue along with the Malibu marks a significant resurgence in product offerings from the domestic manufacturers. The domestics have proven they can play in the big leagues again with no excuses.”

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com “Best Redesigned Vehicle” History:

2004 Ford F-150
2005 Ford Mustang
2006 Honda Civic
2007 Chevrolet Silverado
2008 Chevrolet Malibu

The year 2008 is the second time in the award's five-year history that a manufacturer has taken the title in back-to-back years. In the 2004 and 2005 races for the “Best Redesigned Vehicle” award, Ford took the top prize with the complete redesign of its flagship pickup, Ford F-150, and with the retro-styled Ford Mustang (respectively). Honda broke the streak in 2006 with the redesigned Civic coupe and sedan, and Chevrolet won in 2007 with the Silverado full-size pickup.

“The pace of change continues to accelerate, with each new redesigned model offering greater and greater improvements over its predecessor,” said Nerad. “More power combined with better fuel economy is one welcome trend, as is the rapid proliferation of technologies like Bluetooth® phone connectivity, push-button start and navigation systems with real-time traffic information.”

Vehicles usually are redesigned every four to five years, although some brands wait longer to redesign their models. When a model is redesigned, the value of the previous generation often declines sharply.

About Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)
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Around 893,600 Audi Cars Sold in First 11 Months of 2007

AUDI AG sold approximately 893,600 cars worldwide between January and November, a rise of 7.3 percent on the prior-year period (2006: 833,021).

In November itself, more than 75,600 cars were handed over to their new owners (up 0.5 percent; 2006: 75,258). Audi enjoyed further growth particularly in the intensively competitive European markets. Sales in European countries outside Germany in November rose to around 28,950 cars (up 3.5 percent; 2006: 27,972). Audi achieved growth of 8.4 percent in these countries in the first eleven months of the year, with the total climbing to around 408,200 cars sold (2006: 376,607). The biggest individual market in the region was the UK, where sales increased by 31.4 percent to 6,981 units in November (2006: 5,311) and a total of 96,909 cars for the first eleven months of the year (up 17.4 percent; 2006: 82,555). In Spain, another strong market for the Ingolstadt-based brand, Audi improved its sales total by 9.0 percent to 4,383 cars in November (2006: 4,020) and by 5.3 percent to 54,018 for the first eleven months (2006: 51.297). In Germany, Audi sold 22,094 cars in November (down 7.9 percent; 2006: 23,978); over the first eleven months of the year, AUDI AG sold 232,277 vehicles in its home market, a slight drop of 1.6 percent (2006: 236,064) compared with the previous year. Market share in Germany rose from 7.6 percent to 7.9 percent over the first eleven month.

Audi achieved its steepest growth rates in Eastern Europe, where sales soared by 30.1 percent in November (around 2,400 cars; 2006: 1,849) and 34.1 percent over the first eleven months (around 34,100 cars; 2006: 25,403). In Russia alone, the brand enjoyed a rise in sales of 24.4 percent to 1,120 cars in November (2006: 900). Audi achieved growth of 51.6 percent there in the first eleven months of the year in recording a total of 13,986 units (2006: 9,227).

In China (including Hongkong), which is emerging as a second home market for the Ingolstadt-based company, the brand sold 8,685 cars in November (up 14.7 percent; 2006: 7.575). The figure for January to November was 92,548 cars, 24.7 percent more than in the previous year (2006: 74,209). In the USA, Audi handed 9,104 new cars over to customers (down 1.1 percent; 2006: 9,209); over the first eleven months, the total of 85,004 was 8.7 percent up on the prior-year period (2006: 78,219).

Ralph Weyler, Member of the Board of Management at AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales, commented: "We will end this year having sold more than our anticipated total of 950,000 vehicles. Despite the end of production of our highest-volume model and the difficulties experienced by the German market in 2007, we will notch up our twelfth record year in a row."

Ascari A10

The Ascari A10 has smashed the Top Gear lap record.

The Stig piloted the V8-engined, 625bhp supercar around our test track in just 1m 17.3, shaving three-tenths of a second off the previous record held by the Koenigsegg CCX with the Top Gear spoiler.

With a claimed 0-60mph time of just 2.8 seconds and the ability to hit 100mph in under six seconds, the Ascari A10 was always going to be quick - but that lap time is simply astonishing.

Best of all, the A10 is British built, in Ascari's Banbury factory - albeit around the German engine off the old BMW M5.

If you reckon the A10 sounds like the sort of car that'd look good on your driveway, well, you'll need about £350,000 (and a very understanding partner) to make it happen. All that cash buys you a lot of carbon fibre, that amazing sequential 'box and, erm, not a lot else.

A few weeks ago, the Caparo T1 lapped our track even quicker than the Ascari but was disqualified from the power laps board because it is unable to clear a speed bump. The Ascari, on the other hand, has a raising hydraulic nose, allowing it to take its rightful place atop the board.

© Source: topgear

Mitsubishi Upgrades Lancer, Outlander Four

Mitsubishi will add another version of the "world engine" four-cylinder family to its Lancer and Outlander models.The new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will be installed in the compact sedan and crossover are essentially similar to the four-cylinders found in the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai are partners in the joint venture that designed and developed the engines.

In its Mitsubishi installation, the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder makes 168 hp and 167 pound-feet of torque, and in both new models, it's coupled to a continuously variable transmission.

In the 2009 Lancer GTS, which goes on sale in the spring, the new engine turns in 16 more horsepower than the entry-level 2.0-liter four. Fuel economy with the 2.4-liter and CVT is estimated at 21/27 mpg. The CVT is programmed with six fixed ratios and equipped with paddle shifters. A five-speed manual will also be available.

The Lancer GTS also includes a sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, paddle shifters, fog lamps, ground effects, and a rear spoiler. Options include a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system, Bluetooth, a 30-gigabyte navigation system and music server, passive key entry, and later in the 2009 model year, stability control and rain-sensing wipers.

Meanwhile, the new Outlander ES has already arrived in showrooms as a 2008 model. It'll be followed in the spring by a similar Outlander SE, also outfitted with the 2.4-liter engine, as well as 18-inch wheels, metallic trim and new seats, and the 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.

© Source: thecarconnection

Aston Affirms Bond Sticks With DBS

Don't worry about old James Bond. Since he ditched his suits for a Speedo and took on a blond 'do, it's been rumored that he'd switch driving machines again--particularly since former Aston Martin owners at Ford have other vehicles they'd like to "prominently place" on movie screens everywhere.

But for the new Bond movie in development--tagged only Bond 22 for now as a title is yet undecided--Daniel Craig will, once again, pilot an Aston DBS. Craig's first Bond flick, 2006's Casino Royale, saw him jet around in the Aston supercar for the first time, setting a Guinness record for "most cannon rolls in a car" at the same time. In that stunt, Aston reminds us, stuntman Adam Kirley rolled the DBS seven times for the cameras. (And we swore it was CGI!)

Bond's former Astons include the DB5 from 1964's Goldfinger, which features ejector seats and rockets. More recently, the Vanquish appeared in DIe Another Day.

The new Bond film isn't due until November of 2008, giving the community involved plenty of time to figure out how to get deadly new gadgets into the DBS.

© Source: thecarconnection

2008 HUMMER HX Concept

General Motors is known to have had its eye on the niche occupied by the Jeep Wrangler. And at the Detroit auto show next month, it may reveal more of its intentions to field a Wrangler competitor in the shape of the HUMMER HX concept.