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Lotus to send out new Evora GTE to Geneva this March

Feb 28th, 2012
by Richard.
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lotus-evoraF1 driver Kimi Raikkonen will grace the 2012 motor show in Geneva as well as the racing inspired Evora GTE by Lotus.

The details about the Evora GTE are next to none at the moment but Lotus fans can expect a more potent, F1-inspired Lotus ride. The color scheme is there too which looks like a hyped version of the already nice looking GTE.

The Evora GTE is about 165lbs. Lighter than its sibling standard release which makes the 438 horsepower engine more potent and worthy of being tied in to the F1 name.

The move by Lotus is similar to what Infiniti did collaborating with Sebastian Vettel to come up with the FX50 special edition. The move may also hint further work with the F1 Team of Lotus by the team creating production vehicles for the brand. Lotus already released the Evora S G which is the F1 inspired variant Evora S.

The Lotus Evora GTE will be unwrapped on March 6 in Geneva and we will update you if more information about this Lotus creation will be revealed prior to the launch.

Posted in: Lotus.
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Top 5 Safest minivans according to the IIHS

Nov 22nd, 2011
by Richard.
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If you are a soccer mom or dad, you might be driving a minivan, and as this is usually being used by the whole family, we think safety counts most for this category of vehicles. Here are the safest minivans that you can get today according to the safety ratings of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Toyota Sienna, Honda Oddysey, Volkswagen Routan, Grand Caravan by Dodge, Town & Country by Chrysler.

The top minivans were picked based on the new evaluation standards on rollover protection by the IIHS. The vehicle must have the best rating possible for crash protection on the front, rear, side, and during rollover incidents. They must also have an ESC or electronic stability control.

Almost making it to the list are the Nissan Quest and the Kia Sedona but they fell short on the category of rollover protection. The Quest was tagged as acceptable and the Sedona getting the lowest grading.

The protection during rollover crashes will depend on the strength of the roof of the vehicle. The agency measures this by subjecting the roof of the vehicle to a metal plate pushing against the minivan’s roof on a certain speed. A “good” rating means the roof of the vehicle can take about four times the weight of the vehicle before it caves in by around five inches ore technically have a strength to weigh ratio of 4 at the minimum.

The 2012 Town & Country got a good roll over rating with a ratio of strength and weight at 4.51. This was also used as basis for the Routan and the Grand Caravan. These three minivans underwent structural improvements for their 2012 models so the safety rating only applies to the 2012 models. The Quest had a 3.36 ratio while the Sedona was way below at 2.31.

The new government standards were set back in 2010 with a minimum require of 1.5 but the IIHS sets a higher standard for safety as studies show that the roof strength matters most during rollover crashes. Stronger roofs will crash less and as a result resulting to less serious injuries of passengers.

Back in 2009, about 8,000 people were injured in the United States due to rollover accidents.

Posted in: Chrysler.
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A Sneak Peak at The Car To Gift Yourself This Christmas

Dec 5th, 2010
by Richard.
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I f you have been long dealing with a jalopy or want the latest pair of wheels to drive around in,Christmas Car then Christmas is the best of time to ask Father Santa for it. That is exactly what the car manufacturers know and they organize car shows and exhibitions to exhibit their best pair of wheels around. That is where the Motor Trend International Auto Show will help you this weekend.

Whatever be the kind of vehicle that you be looking for, you are going to be able to find it right out here. They have the best of crossovers, hybrids and sports car on display that is bound to steal your heart away. You will love the kind of buzz t that this car show has created as it will bring about people to see and feel the cars that are on display and at the same time not be under the immense pressure to go ahead and buy them. This can be really reassuring as you can see the best that the automotive industry has to offer and then go ahead and make a decision based on your specific needs. This is bound to be a one of a kind of browsing experience that you are going to love.

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Posted in: Auto Industry.
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Hamann Tunes the 2010 BMW 5-Series

Jun 2nd, 2010
by Richard.
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If you weren’t very happy with how the standard 2010 BMW 5-series Gran Turismo turned out, we suggest you check out what Hamann did to the car. The German tuning company is giving the BMW 5-series a completeHamann 5-Series tuning kit. Yes, that’s right. This means that the modifications will be technical as well as visual. If you miss the bumpier BMW cars of yesteryears, you’re going to love this makeover.

The more notable modifications, though, were done under the hood. Hamann raised the 530 diesel engine’s output from 245 HP and 540Nm of torque to 275 HP and 640Nm of torque. This was possible through a reprogramming of the engine’s Motronic power management system.

On the cosmetic side, the exterior of the vehicle received a new bumper, newly redesigned side skirts, and a spunkier rear apron. This incorporated four distinct Hamann mufflers. These were crafted from stainless steel with a featured 90mm diameter. The 535i, 530d, and 550i models of the line, including their air suspension variants, received a suspension lowering kit which improved the handling and sharpened the appearance of the cars.

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Posted in: BMW.
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First Batch of 2010 BMW M3 GTS to be Delivered Soon

May 14th, 2010
by Richard.
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BMW M GmbH will soon launch the BMW M3 GTS on the streets—and on the racetrack. Based on the older M3 coupe, this high performance sports car is driven by a 4,361cc V8 engine. This particular engine can’t be found in any of the models because it was exclusively designed for the M3 lineage.

2010 BMW M3 GTSThis engine can generate up to 331kW/450bhp. A peak 440Nm of torque is also expected. With so much meat in its powerpack, the sports car can sprint from zero to 100km/h in merely 4.4 seconds. The top speed rated for this car is 305 km/h. The standard BMW M3 GTS comes with a bright orange body and sleek matt black exterior components. This includes the iconic BMW roof trim and kidney grilles.

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Posted in: BMW.
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Senner Revs up the Nissan 370Z with a New Sports Exhaust System

May 4th, 2010
by Richard.
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Senner, the German tuning company, took a shot at revving up the Nissan 370Z by replacing its exhaust system with a sportier do. The customized exhaust system is priced at US$1900 apiece. It comes with oval tailpipes (about 130mm wide), and, according to the tuner, produces more than just a sonorous note. The customized exhaust system is also supposed to add 16 HP to the 347 HP produced by the sports car’s 1.7-L V6 engine.

Senner 370zThe carbon fiber body kit of from Senner also comes with a rear spoiler and front and rear aprons. The Senner Nissan 370Z’s ride has also been lowered, sitting on 20-inch Barracuda Tzunamee rims. These rims are available in Matt Black and Racing While polish.

Currently, the Nissan 370Z is priced below $30,000. It’s still not clear whether or not Senner’s tuned up version is in line with the limited edition Nissan 40th Anniversary Package which should come out this spring. In any case, the package celebrates 40 years of the car manufacturer’s iconic Z line up. With the promised “unique content and exclusive interior/exterior color combination”, the anniversary edition is priced at $38,000.

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Posted in: Nissan.
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Toyota issues voluntary recall for the 2010 GX 460 Lexus SUV

Apr 20th, 2010
by Richard.
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The USA arm of Toyota Motors recently announced that they are doing a voluntary recall of more than 9,000 units of the luxury SUV 2010 GX 460 of Lexus.2010 GX 460 The reason of the recall is to update the vehicles software which is responsible for the stability control. According to the Japanese car maker, the recall does not involve other vehicles from Lexus, Toyota, or Scion.

The Vehicle Stability Control or VSC reacts when the SUV loses traction while handling a turn. Slippage of the front or rear wheel is a common occurrence in SUVs which have high centers of gravity.

The Consumer Reports earlier raised the issue about the stability of the vehicle when handling a corner fast. The test drivers of the magazine noted that the VSC of the luxury SUV from Lexus reacts quite low compared to other vehicles. The website then discouraged consumers to acquire the said SUV.

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Posted in: Lexus, Toyota.
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2010 Gumpert Apollo Sport unveiled in Geneva

Mar 7th, 2010
by Richard.
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In recent years, Gumpert Spotwagenmanufaktur released different versions of their supercar. First came the Black and White Apollo. Last year, we saw the Apollo Speed. This year at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the 2010 Gumpert Apollo Sport which features the latest of the carmaker’s power package was uncovered.

Gumpert ApolloThe German supercar attributes the monstrous 750 horsepower of its engine to improved engine control, cooling, and recirculation valves. It is a big jump from the Apollo Sport’s last version giving out 700 hp.

The electronic TT40e gear system of the new Apollo Sport also gets improved rocker switches installed on the steering wheel of the car allows drivers to shift quicker.

This is also the first Apollo to have a right hand driver version which gives opportunities for consumers in Japan and the UK.

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Posted in: Gumpert.
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2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver goes for electric street cars

Feb 19th, 2010
by Richard.
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The organizers of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver decided to go green and relied heavily on mass transport to bring the athletes and the spectators around the scenic British Columbia.

The whole world should not fail to take note that electric vehicles are everywhere. Look at the streetcar system of the city and the Vancouver games might be the Flexity Bombardier Streetcargreenest Olympic Games so far. The streetcars they are using are running on electricity and has zero emissions.

Bombardier, a company also known for watercrafts and snow machines, donated low floor linked trolleys all the way from their plant in Brussels. Around 500 streetcars are being used and we can say that the system is highly commendable.

The Olympic Line of electric streetcars will be running through March 21. It runs along a 1.8 kilometer route running between 6:30 in the morning until 12:30 am, passing approximate after every 6 or 10 minutes.  Another great thing about it is that the ride is for free.

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Posted in: Bombardier.
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Peugeot shows bb1 concept Electric Car inspired by motorcycle

Jan 11th, 2010
by Richard.
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The recent Frankfurt Auto Show witnessed concepts that may look a bit radical but representative of what may be the future of the auto industry. Peugeot BB1Peugeot did their share of showcasing a head turner during the event as they unveiled the bb1 concept car inspired by the motorcycle.

The CEO of the French company describes the compact vehicle as a ride between four and two-wheel vehicles. Peugeot will be consolidating their data in the next six months before deciding if they will have a commercial gain to put the bb1 into production.

The bb1 follows the tubular chassis architecture by Peugeot Motorcycles, a subsidiary of Peugeot-Citroen. If the bb1 gets the green light from the top management, it will be assembled by their motorcycles arm.

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Posted in: Peugeot.
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