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Smart Car
I think that up until just recently, the Smart cars were only available in Europe and other Asian countries, but I found out that there is now an importer in Santa Rosa, CA called Zap that has started bringing them in. The Smart cars come in 3 different styles. In Europe, they're called Fortwo, Forfour, and the Roadster. You can compare them on Smart. However, they did away with the Roadster in the US, then repackaged and renamed the models as Pure, Pulse, and Passion. All models come in either coupe or cabrio styles. Maybe it's just me, but I kind of like their original, simple and straightforward names. Even though these Smart cars are not electric or hybrid vehicles, with gas prices continuing to go up and up with no end in sight, it just seems to make sense to be driving a smaller vehicle that gives you good gas mileage. The Smarts (as they're called) have recently been promoted to "starlet" status by starring in the blockbuster movie Da Vincci Code with the lovely Audrey Tautou, so perhaps with their newly established celebrity status, more people will see that small is beautiful, instead of going for the big, bigger, biggest designs of SUVs......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Toyota Recalls 1 Million Cars
Toyota prius
This recall would include 565,756 vehicles in Japan, including Wish, Isis, Prius and other cars built between September 2002 and November 2005. The company is also recalling 00,000 units outside of Japan. Together with this recall, Toyota company is conducting a "special service campaign" in the United States for 170,000 Toyota Priuses, which the company believe to be the only Toyota vehicles that may have the steering malfunction......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Volkswagen On The No-No Juice
But folks don't want a spendy VW. The W8 Passat didn't sell, the Phaeton didn't sell. Do you really think a (very sweet, we might add) $40k Eos is going to sell? Now before you start in with the, "But it's only $28k" line, how a number of of the $28 dealies you going to commit building? Oh, we thought so. Look, it'll be a very good car. But it'll be pricey and that's not what people are looking for from you......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Ford Hiding
How about making kick-ass cars and trucks rather than making a hiding place. We like forts, too, but we're not kids anymore. Well, Ford isn't. We, however, reserve the right to have forts made out of couch cushions, ships made out of the ottoman, and tents made out of sheets. In each of these places, your criticisms have no affect and, in fact, bounce off of us and stick to you! Ha! Eat that, critics!........ Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Lithium-powered Cabs in NYC
These electric cabbies will run on 600-pound, 320V battery pack that can run 150 miles between each plug-in and a downtime of six hours between charges. Each EV PT will cost between $50K and $75K, but enables a huge estimated fuel cost savings about $15,000/year. Holly Roseberry, President of Hybrid Technologies, is excited. She says : "Imagine the iconic New York City taxi running off a fully lithium system.....this truly is a dramatic and positive statement for the city"......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Mercedes McLaren SLR Upgraded
We heard that the Mercedes McLaren SLR was to receive its beauty touches later this year. However, to the utter amazement of people, an upgraded Mercedes McLaren SLR was spotted on one of Spain's mountain road. Looks great! No wonder it has caught everyone's attention. The finer touches would include a power increase in its V8 from 626 to 650 hp, an all updated interior, 19-inch wheels, a firmer suspension, a new braking system and increased weight savings. It will also come with irresistible color combinations: blue exterior and tan interior......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source The Pontiac Solstice GXP
General Motors unveils the new Red Bull Pontiac Solstice GXP Formula D Drift car.
Tracing its origins back to underground races on Japan's winding mountain roads in the 1960s, drifting was a full-fledged and heavily funded motorsport in Japan by the 1980s. It arrived in the United States in the late 1990s, and has been gaining in popularity ever since, boosted by the cult following of the Japanese Manga/Anime series Initial D. This summer, American movie-going audiences will get hit with a full dose of the drifting phenomenon with the third installment of The Fast and The Furious trilogy, subtitled Tokyo Drift. But to Rhys Millen, a New Zealand-born American, it's more than just a pop-culture fascination. Millen shifted from the top of the rally car racing circuit to drifting and now has two wins in the United States drifting series, known as Formula D. In last year's Formula Drift Championship, Millen muscled his way to first place in his drift car, a modified 2004 Pontiac GTO. When it was time for a new ride to slam through the corners, Pontiac had just the answer:. The Red Bull Turbocharged 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Drift......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Christening a New Design Center
I'm proud of the evolution of our design staff, and indeed our entire global product development organization. And now, as we run the business on a global basis, having all of our GME Design teams - Opel, Vauxhall, Saab and Advanced Design - together in one facility, is a great step forward. The timing is good for this move, as Opel, Vauxhall and Saab are experiencing growth in the marketplace and are significantly advancing their future design language. Opel/Vauxhall has significantly raised its design profile with products like the Astra GTC, Meriva and Zafira. We'll continue to create more innovative concepts and adventurous designs in upcoming vehicles like the Antara and the new Corsa. Saab, obviously, is a very different brand with a completely different customer base. Its Scandinavian origin and aircraft heritage is very important, and we'll continue to draw upon those for inspiration. The next generation of Saab models will be striking..... with the Aero X concept leading the way and providing a good sense of Saab's future design language. Visiting the new facility in Rüsselsheim was particularly interesting for me, because I was there in the 1960s when Opel was doing groundbreaking designs like the original Opel GT, and the so-called 1720 Opel Commodore......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Car That Takes You 8000 Miles Per Gallon!
Andy Green, 45, from the University of Bath, believes his three-wheel TeamGreen car is capable of doing 8,000 miles to the gallon. His budget eco-motor cost just £2,000 to build and will be the sole British contender for the title of the world's most fuel-economic car in a global competition being later this month. The car, which weighs less than 5 stone - the average weight of a nine-year-old boy - made its debut at the Somerset university campus. It will compete against 250 teams from around the world for the Shell Eco-Marathon championships in France from May 19......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source Shape-shifting Car Will Brace For Impact
Cameras and radar work together, pinpointing the position and velocity of potential impactors (Image: Siemens) A car that can anticipate a side-on impact and subtly alter its body shape to absorb the force of the crash is being developed by scientists in Gera number of. The car will use hood-mounted cameras and radar to spot a vehicle on course for a side-on collision. Once it realises an impact is imminent it will activate a shape-shifting metal in the door. This reinforces the bond between door and frame, which is normally a weak spot, and distributes the force of the blow more safely. Side impacts are as common as front or rear ones but cause a number of more injuries, says Joachim Tandler, a car safety researcher at engineering firm Siemens who is working on the EU-funded project. "It's because there is so little crush zone, and less energy is absorbed before the passenger compartment is crushed," he told New Scientist. There is also insufficient time for a conventional safety system - such as a built-in airbag - to react and protect a passenger, he says......... Posted by: Jim Permalink Source |
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